Restoring the longleaf pine ecosystem: The role of container seedling technology

Abstract

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystems once occupied 90 million acres in the southern United States’ coastal plain. Restoration of longleaf pine ecosystems has been difficult because reestablishment of the species by either natural or artificial means has been problematic. The application of container seedling technology to longleaf pine markedly improves reforestation success. It allows nursery managers and silviculturists to more effectively deal with the inherent seed and seedling characteristics that make longleaf establishment so difficult. Improved seed collecting and processing and seedling cultural techniques have resulted in planting stock that can be successfully established in the field. As a result, a 10-fold increase in longleaf pine seedling production has occurred in the last few years to meet restoration needs across the South.Individual papers from this publication

Parent Publication

• Silviculture in special places: proceedings of the 2003 National Silviculture Workshop

Citation

Barnett, James P. 2004. Restoring the longleaf pine ecosystem: The role of container seedling technology. In: Shepperd, Wayne D.; Eskew, Lane G., compilers. 2004. Silviculture in special places: Proceedings of the National Silviculture Workshop; 2003 September 8-11; Granby, CO. Proceedings RMRS-P-34. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 127-134