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Abstract
Once common in the Southeastern United States (SE US), longleaf pine (Pinus palustris
Mill.) ecosystems, have been reduced to 3% of its native range. The goal of this research
project is to improve quantitative estimates of wood volume and green weight for unthinned
planted longleaf pine growing in Georgia (GA). We surveyed 20 unthinned longleaf pine
stands across GA from old-field and cut-over sites, and destructively sampled 400 trees to
obtain outside bark diameter and green weight measurements. The sample trees had ages
12{25 years old, diameter at breast height 3.9-12.2 in, and total height 28.5-73.9 ft. Stem
taper for inside and outside bark was best modeled with the Max and Burkhart (1976)
form. Stem taper, implied volume, and green weight did not vary with stand origin. On
average 36% of longleaf pine trees surveyed had stem defects. The volume and green weight
in forked trees was about 11% higher than non-defect trees and about 15% less in crooked
trees compared to non-defect trees with the same DBH and total height. These models will
be useful for determining the value of the existing longleaf pine stands and newly established
stands across GA and the SE US on old-field and cut-over sites.
Mill.) ecosystems, have been reduced to 3% of its native range. The goal of this research
project is to improve quantitative estimates of wood volume and green weight for unthinned
planted longleaf pine growing in Georgia (GA). We surveyed 20 unthinned longleaf pine
stands across GA from old-field and cut-over sites, and destructively sampled 400 trees to
obtain outside bark diameter and green weight measurements. The sample trees had ages
12{25 years old, diameter at breast height 3.9-12.2 in, and total height 28.5-73.9 ft. Stem
taper for inside and outside bark was best modeled with the Max and Burkhart (1976)
form. Stem taper, implied volume, and green weight did not vary with stand origin. On
average 36% of longleaf pine trees surveyed had stem defects. The volume and green weight
in forked trees was about 11% higher than non-defect trees and about 15% less in crooked
trees compared to non-defect trees with the same DBH and total height. These models will
be useful for determining the value of the existing longleaf pine stands and newly established
stands across GA and the SE US on old-field and cut-over sites.