JSDA FOREST SERVICE RESEARCH NOTE NE-II9 



1970 



NATURAL SEED FALL IN WHITE PINE (PINUS 

 STROBUS L.) STANDS OF VARYING DENSITY 



Abstract. — Seed fall was observed in three stands of mature 

 white pines at stand basal-area densities of 80, 120, and 187 

 square feet per acre. It was found that the intermediate-density 

 stand produced nearly 50 percent more seed than the stands 

 of other densities. During a good seed year this stand produced 

 59 pounds of dry sound seed per acre. Most of the seeds were 

 dispersed during a 7-week period beginning about the middle 

 of September. The seed crop was reduced by action of birds, 

 animals, and insects. 



A detailed knowledge of natural seedfall is of value to the forest 

 manager, particularly when natural regeneration is planned. This informa- 

 tion can also be useful in estimating seed crops and in scheduling seed- 

 collection activities. 



Little is known about the qualitative and quantitative aspects of eastern 

 white pine seed production. Most of the meager knowledge available is 

 in the very general source, The Woody-Plant Seed Manual. 1 The only 

 detailed study of white pine seed fall was done by Messer 2 in Germany, 

 and this is not readily available, even if it could be assumed to be appli- 

 cable in Northeastern forests. 



To gain some of the needed information about white pine seed fall, 

 a study was made in southwestern Maine. We found that seed fall 



1 United States Forest Service. Woody-Plant Seed Manual. U.S. Dep. Agr. Misc. Pub. 

 654, 416 pp., illus. 1948. 



2 Messer, H. Untersuchungen iiber das Fruchten der Weymouths Kiefer (Pinus strobus L.) 

 und dergriinen Douglasie (Pseudotsuga taxijolia var. viridis). Ztschr. Forstgenet. 5(2): 33-40. 

 1956. 



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