MANAGING PINE PLANTATIONS FOR OPTIMUM RETURNS 



By 1954, the Alexandria area already had 160,000 to 180,000 acres 

 of pine plantations; 15,000 to 25,000 acres more are being planted each 

 year. Since pine tree planting requires an investment of $7 to $16 per 

 acre, it is essential that landowners manage plantations so as to pro- 

 vide early, high, and sustained income. They especially need to know: 



1. When the first thinning should be made. 



2. How heavily to thin for various management objectives. 



3. The type of trees to retain in stands being managed for 

 maximum growth of high-quality sawtimber. 



4. The feasibility and best system of pruning in under- 

 stocked stands. 



5. How and when to prescribe-burn for brown spot control 

 or hazard reduction. 



6. How to minimize damage from wildfire, insects, disease, 

 and storm s. 



Thinning Loblolly Pine Plantations 



A thinning study in cooperation with the Louisiana Forestry Com- 

 mission was started on the Alexander State Forest in 1948. The study 

 tract is 40 acres of loblolly pine planted in 1928 at four different 

 spacmgs (4 by 4, 6 by 6, 8 by 8, and 10 by 10 feet). Light, medium, 

 and heavy thinnings were made in each spacing when the trees were 20 

 years old and again at age 25. Unthmned plots were left in the three 

 widest spacmgs to determine results of future deferred thinnings. The 

 thinnings will be repeated every five years. 



The medium thinnings at age 20 took out about 11 cords per acre. 

 The wood sold for enough to repay, with interest, all previous costs of 

 planting, protection, and land rent. Total growth was greatest in the 8 

 by 8 spacing, which had 29. 5 cords per acre or an average of 1-1/2 

 cords per acre per year. 



At age 25, the 8 by 8 spacing showed a total average yield (in- 

 cluding the wood removed in thinnings) of 39 cords per acre. This was 

 slightly more than the total growth on the other spacing blocks. Because 



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