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Fifth-Year Height and Survival of Loblolly Pine Across Tennessee Following Various Silvicultural Treatments

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) was planted at nine experiment stations located across Tennessee in 1993-94 and 1994-95 using a customized fractional factorial design. Two sites, good and poor, were chosen on each experiment station to compare effects of soil productivity on height and survival. At each site, three treatments were evaluated: spacing (8X8, 8X10, and 10X10 feet), post-planting herbicide application after spring green- up (2.0 oz/ac Oust and 4.0 oz/ac Arsenal), and fertilization at planting (three, 9 gm, 22-8-2 fertilizer tablets per tree). Height measurements and survival counts were taken after the fifth growing season. The least square estimates of mean height and survival over all treatments and sites after five growing seasons were 11.9 feet and 83 percent, respectively. Results indicate that herbicide application increased tree height by 8 percent (11.4 vs. 12.4 feet). Survival increased 13 percent (77 vs. 87percent) when herbicide was used. Significant differences (P < 0.05) among experiment stations were found for height and for survival. Mean height estimates ranged from 9.5 feet at the West Tennessee Experiment Station to 13.5 feet at Ames Plantation and the Highland Rim Forestry Station. Survival ranged from 59 percent at the Dairy Experiment Station to 99 percent at the Highland Rim Forestry Station. No significant differences were found between good and poor sites. The herbicide treatment increased survival significantly more (P < 0.05) on poor sites than on good sites.

Citation

Taylor, Lyle E.; Rennie, John C. 2002. Fifth-Year Height and Survival of Loblolly Pine Across Tennessee Following Various Silvicultural Treatments. In: Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-48. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pg. 254-256
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/4891