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Seasonal and cumulative loblolly pine development under two stand density and fertility levels

Informally Refereed

Abstract

An 8 year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stand was subjected to two cultural treatments for examination of seasonal and cumulative pine development. In the first treatment, pine density was either reduced by removal cutting to 2% trees per acre, at a 12- by 124 spacing, or left uncut with an original density of 1,210 trees per acre at a 6- by 6-ft spacing. In the second treatment, either no fertilizer was applied, or diammonium phosphate was broadcast at 134 lbs of P and 120 lbs of N per acre. Competing vegetation was controlled on all plots. Pine heights and diameters were measured in the spring, summer, fall, and winter of the 9th through 11th growing seasons. Plots that had undergone removal cutting had less spring height growth in the 9th and 10th growing seasons than the uncut plots, with no significant affect in the 11th season. Cutting increased diameter growth throughout each spring and summer, but basal area per acre increment failed to keep pace with the uncut plots. Fertilization increased height growth, beginning in the 10th growing season, and fertilization increased diameter and basal area per acre growth each year, especially on the cut plots. Fertilization of cut plots was more beneficial than cutting alone. Removal cutting alone resulted in less height and basal area growth than the other treatment combinations in the 9th through 11th growing seasons.

Citation

Haywood, James D. 1992. Seasonal and cumulative loblolly pine development under two stand density and fertility levels. Paper presented at the Seventh Biennial Southern Silviculture Research Conference, Mobile, AL, November 17-19, 1992
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/8471