Predicting Height and Relative Performance of Major Southern Pines From Rainfall, Slope, and Available Soil Moisture

Abstract

Regression analyses showed that 46 to 60 percent of the variation in 20-year heights of dominant and codominant loblolly, slash, longleaf, and shortleaf pine on Gulf Coastal Plain soils was associated with warm and cool season rain, slope, and potential available moisture storage of the subsoil. Loblolly should be taller than slash on loamy or sandy loam soils only if annual rainfall averages less than about 140 cm, warm season rainfall averages less than 76 cm, and the subsoil potential available moisture storage capacity is about 7 percent. On sites with silty loam or finer textured subsoils or on deep sands, loblolly excels only if average annual rainfall does not exceed about 132 cm and is about equally distributed between warm and cool seasons. Under most moisture regimes represented in this study, loblolly or slash should be taller than longleaf or shortleaf at 20 years. Forest Sci. 26:437–447.