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Abstract
Loblolly pine is the most commercially important southern pine species in the southeastern United States. Genetic improvement began in the 1950s and continues today with decisions on which families to move forward into the next generation being made based on early rotation growth gains. Few studies look at rotation age data to determine if these early observed gains are realized at harvest. Growth gains are also traditionally expressed as gains over unimproved stock, however, unimproved stock is no longer commercially planted. This research aims to create a new benchmark of comparison with a still commonly operationally planted first-generation open-pollinated loblolly pine family rather than the traditionally used unimproved stock and to further evaluate rotation age impacts of first-generation selections and their interactions with early silvicultural practices. Results concluded that appropriate silviculture is needed for improved genetic families to fully express their genetic potential. While gains can be seen due to genetics alone the combination of improved genetics and competition control yielded the greatest improvements in measures of growth and yield.