Elevated Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere: What Might It Mean for Loblolly Pine Plantation Forestry
Abstract
Research with loblolly pine suggests that projected increases in atmospheric CO2 concentration will accelerate early growth and could result in shorter rotation length, reduced time until first commercial thinning, higher optimal planting density, and possibly higher maximum stocking level in managed stands. We discuss some of the physiological processes and stand dynamics that underlie these changes, as well as silivicultural strategies that may serve to ensure sustainability of intensibely managed forest systems in the face of increasing CO2 and possible climate change.