Effects of Early Release on Natural Versus Container Loblolly Pines 12 Years After Field Establishment

Michael D. Cain; James Barnett

Treesearch

Effects of Early Release on Natural Versus Container Loblolly Pines 12 Years After Field Establishment

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Michael D. Cain, James Barnett

Year:

2002

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Southern Research Station

Source:

Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, Vol. 26, No. 4, p. 173-180 November 2002.

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Abstract

Genetically improved, container loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings were compared to naturally established loblolly seedlings on a cutoverpine site. Crop pines on 6 of 12 plots were releasedfrom woody and herbaceous competition within a 2 ft radius of each stem. On release plots, woody competition was controlled by hand-cutting for 5 consecutive yr and herbaceous competition was controlled with herbicides for 4 consecutive yr ufterpine establishment. Competition control increased 12 yr survival by 68 percentage points for natural pines and by 47 percentage points for planted pines. Twelve years afterfield establishment, mean-tree volume ofplantedpines was no different than that of naturally established pines. Nevertheless, volume gains of 150% to 200% were achieved within regeneration techniques as a result of release.

Keywords

Container pines, herbaceous competition, natural regeneration, Pinus taeda L, woody competition

Citation

Cain, Michael D.; Barnett, James P. 2002. Effects of Early Release on Natural Versus Container Loblolly Pines 12 Years After Field Establishment. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, Vol. 26, No. 4, p. 173-180 November 2002.