Fertilization, weed control, and pine litter influence loblolly pine stem productivity and root development

Abstract

Following site preparation, three cultural treatments and three open-pollinated loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) families were studied on a gently sloping Beauregard silt loam in central Louisiana. The treatments were: (1) fertilization (either broadcast application of 177 kg N and 151 kg P/ha or none); (2) herbicide application (either broadcast application of herbicides during the first through third growing seasons, and felling of a few, scattered volunteer hardwood trees greater than 2.5 cm dbh during the third growing season or none); and (3) litter application (either broadcast application of 37 Mg/ha (oven-dried weight) of pine straw over the plots to form a 10 to 15 cm layer or none). The subplot treatment was planting stock, where in November 1988, 28-week-old container-grown loblolly pine seedlings from three open-pollinated families were randomly assigned to planting locations.

Citation

Haywood, James D.; Tiarks, Allan E.; Sword, Mary A. 1997. Fertilization, weed control, and pine litter influence loblolly pine stem productivity and root development. New Forests. 14: 233-249. 17 p.