A New Effort to Study A New Effort to Study Intensively Managed Pine Intensively Managed Pine PlantationsPlantations

CAPPS - Consortium for CAPPS - Consortium for Accelerated Pine Production Accelerated Pine Production StudiesStudies

Daniel B. Warnell School of Daniel B. Warnell School of Forest Resources - The Forest Resources - The University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia

Bruce E. BordersBruce E. Borders

Supply vs Demand for Supply vs Demand for Wood FiberWood Fiber Worldwide and domestically the demand Worldwide and domestically the demand

for wood fiber is continuing to increasefor wood fiber is continuing to increase The landbase available for production of The landbase available for production of

wood fiber is declining due to wood fiber is declining due to urbanization, suburbanization and urbanization, suburbanization and environmental concernsenvironmental concerns

To help meet the demand for this To help meet the demand for this material we must increase production of material we must increase production of plantation grown woodplantation grown wood

Intensive Management of Intensive Management of Southern Pine PlantationsSouthern Pine Plantations

Competition Control Using HerbicidesCompetition Control Using Herbicides Soil Amelioration With Mechanical Soil Amelioration With Mechanical

Treatments (e.g. bedding, ripping)Treatments (e.g. bedding, ripping) Fertilization (time of planting, time of Fertilization (time of planting, time of

crown closure, etc.)crown closure, etc.) Genetically Improved Planting Stock Genetically Improved Planting Stock

(disease resistance and growth gains)(disease resistance and growth gains)

CAPPS Field PlotsCAPPS Field Plots

Four separate installations located Four separate installations located at 2 locations in Georgiaat 2 locations in Georgia

Two Piedmont installations (near Two Piedmont installations (near Eatonton, GA in Putnam county)Eatonton, GA in Putnam county)

Two Lower Coastal Plain Two Lower Coastal Plain installations (near Waycross, GA in installations (near Waycross, GA in Ware county)Ware county)

Treatments Treatments

H - complete vegetation control H - complete vegetation control throughout the life of the stand using throughout the life of the stand using herbicidesherbicides

F - annual fertilization treatmentF - annual fertilization treatment HF - both H and FHF - both H and F C - check plot (a very intensive C - check plot (a very intensive

mechanical treatment that include mechanical treatment that include bedding in Waycross and a 3-pass bedding in Waycross and a 3-pass operation in Eatonton)operation in Eatonton)

ReplicationReplication

Two complete blocks of 3/8 acre Two complete blocks of 3/8 acre treatment plots at each locationtreatment plots at each location

3 time replicates at each location3 time replicates at each location Eatonton - 1988, 1990, 1995 (one Eatonton - 1988, 1990, 1995 (one

block only)block only) Waycross - 1987, 1989, 1993Waycross - 1987, 1989, 1993

Height Development at Height Development at EatontonEatonton

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Picture 1Picture 1

Waycross, Wet siteHerbicide Plot at Age 11

Picture 2Picture 2

Waycross, Dry siteHerbicide and Fertilization Plot at Age 11

Waycross, Wet site

Herbicide and Fertilization Plot at Age 11

Intensively Managed Loblolly Pine at Age 2

Conclusions from Conclusions from Empirical StudyEmpirical Study

It is possible to produce greater It is possible to produce greater than 450 cubic feet per acre per than 450 cubic feet per acre per year in a loblolly pine plantation year in a loblolly pine plantation grown in Georgiagrown in Georgia

This productive potential is This productive potential is approaching growth rates reported approaching growth rates reported in areas such as Brazil and South in areas such as Brazil and South Africa Africa

Objective of CAPPSObjective of CAPPS

Improve our understanding of tree Improve our understanding of tree responses to intensive cultural responses to intensive cultural treatmentstreatments

Use this improved understanding to Use this improved understanding to develop more efficient management develop more efficient management guidelinesguidelines

Develop simulation models that Develop simulation models that provide realistic yields on a localized provide realistic yields on a localized levellevel

Objectives (cont.)Objectives (cont.)

Provide information for the Provide information for the improvement of process level improvement of process level simulatorssimulators

Evaluate and characterize wood Evaluate and characterize wood quality of fast grown loblolly pine quality of fast grown loblolly pine treestrees

CAPPS - A Cross CAPPS - A Cross Disciplinary StudyDisciplinary Study

To accomplish the objectives To accomplish the objectives described above it is necessary for described above it is necessary for a great deal of collaboration a great deal of collaboration among scientists in various fieldsamong scientists in various fields

The scientists involved are forest The scientists involved are forest biometricians, silviculturists, soil biometricians, silviculturists, soil scientists, tree physiologists, forest scientists, tree physiologists, forest ecologists and wood scientistsecologists and wood scientists

Study 1Study 1

The effects of fertilization and The effects of fertilization and competition control on carbon and competition control on carbon and nutrient allocation, leaf area nutrient allocation, leaf area efficiency, and light interception efficiency, and light interception and the physiology of loblolly pine and the physiology of loblolly pine plantations.plantations.

Study 2Study 2

Solid wood production in Solid wood production in intensively managed loblolly pine intensively managed loblolly pine plantations with development of plantations with development of individual tree taper, weight and individual tree taper, weight and volume relationshipsvolume relationships

Study 3Study 3

Localizing growth and yield models Localizing growth and yield models for intensively managed loblolly for intensively managed loblolly pine plantationspine plantations

Study 4Study 4

Basic wood properties of Basic wood properties of intensively managed loblolly pine intensively managed loblolly pine plantationsplantations

FundingFunding

CAPPS received funding for a 5 CAPPS received funding for a 5 year period starting in July 1998 year period starting in July 1998 extending through June of 2003extending through June of 2003

The total extramural funding for The total extramural funding for this project comes from DOE this project comes from DOE (approximately $300,000), and (approximately $300,000), and forest industry (approximately forest industry (approximately $500,000$500,000

Funding (cont.)Funding (cont.)

Daniel B. Warnell School of Forest Daniel B. Warnell School of Forest Resources at the University of Resources at the University of Georgia is also providing Georgia is also providing approximately $500,000 of actual approximately $500,000 of actual and in-kind support for this projectand in-kind support for this project

Project StatusProject Status

All projects are in the early stagesAll projects are in the early stages Data at the various levels of Data at the various levels of

resolution (tree compartment resolution (tree compartment (branch, foliage, root, stem, whole (branch, foliage, root, stem, whole tree, etc.) as well as all site tree, etc.) as well as all site descriptors (soils, water tables, descriptors (soils, water tables, etc.) are being compiled in a etc.) are being compiled in a Relational Database System.Relational Database System.

Interesting Mensurational Interesting Mensurational WorkWork

Simulating the development of these Simulating the development of these fast grown plantationsfast grown plantations

Simulating leaf area development Simulating leaf area development both within and among yearsboth within and among years

Developing more site specific models Developing more site specific models that include site information, leaf that include site information, leaf area information as well as more area information as well as more traditional mensurational informationtraditional mensurational information