Third Year Survival, Growth, And Water Relations Of West Gulf Coastal Plain Pines In East Texas

West Gulf Coastal Plain provenance loblolly (Pinus taeda L.), longleaf (Pinus palustris Mill.), shortleaf (Pinus echinata Mill.), and slash pines (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) were planted in December 2015 on three east Texas sites to compare initial growth and survival. Three years after planting, survival ranged from 26.4% to 76.4%. Damage by Texas leafcutter ants (Atte texana) caused significant mortality on one site, and feral hog (Sus scrofa) herbivory and uprooting greatly affected survival at two other sites. Tree heights were greater in loblolly and slash pine than in shortleaf and longleaf pine, whereas diameters were greater in loblolly than in slash, shortleaf, and longleaf. Height and survival rates were greater in Shelby County and were lowest in Cherokee County. Midday leaf-level water potentials were most negative for shortleaf and loblolly pines and varied across the three sites.Tree heights were significantly but weakly (R = -0.23) correlated to leaf-level water potentials.Study Implications: Based on these results, loblolly pine is recommended for planting on sites where soil moisture is adequate, if early growth and survival are a concern. Slash pine can outcompete other pines on sites where soils are poorly drained. On soils that are excessively drained with low moisture, shortleaf may be considered. Given longleaf pine's ability to retain needle moisture and surface area during periods of low soil moisture, longleaf pine is suggested for planting on the same sites. Longleaf pine will require more active management on any soil type in order to decrease herbaceous plant competition. Continued measurements are required to determine whether these growth and survival trends will continue over a full rotation.