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Managing Leaf Area for Maximum Volume Production in a Loblolly Pine Plantation

Informally Refereed

Abstract

To manage loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stands for maximum volume growth, the relationships between volume growth and leaf area at the tree and stand level under different cultural practices (thinning and fertilization) were examined. Forty-eight trees were harvested in 1995, six years after treatment, for individual tree measurements, and 336 standing trees were used for stand measurements each year from 1991 to 1994. Thinning significantly Increased annual ring width, tree leaf area, and tree volume growth during the six years following treatment, but reduced stand leaf area index and stand volume growth. Fertilization increased leaf area and volume growth at both the tree and the stand level, but significant tree level effects were only apparent during the first three years following treatment. The combination of thinning and fertilization was the optimum overall treatment. The relationship between volume growth and leaf area was linear and positive at the both of tree and stand level across treatments.

Citation

Yu, Shufang; Cao, Quang V.; Chambers, Jim L.; Tang, Zhenmin; Haywood, James D. 1999. Managing Leaf Area for Maximum Volume Production in a Loblolly Pine Plantation. USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, General Technical Report SRS-030, Proceedings of the Tenth Biennial Southern Silvicultrual Research Conference, pp. 455-460
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/1567