Growth trends of loblolly pine age five or less in relation to soil type and management intensity

We evaluated three objectives for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) trees age five or less: 1) how height growth varies by soil type and silvicultural intensity, 2) the accuracy of predicted base-age 25 site index (SI25) using age one to five heights, and 3) if height dominance exhibited early in the rotation is maintained throughout the rotation. Data from 42 sites across the southeastern United States with an array of soil textures and management intensities (optimal, intensive, and operational) were used. Management intensity and soils significantly affected tree height. Coarse loamy soils were the most responsive to increasing management intensity. At age four, tree heights were greatest in the optimal group (4.63 m), followed by the intensive (4.31 m), and then the operational (3.06 m). Organic soils do not appear to respond to maximum management intensity. Predictability of SI25 was high especially starting at age four, with R² values ranging from 0.27 for the age four intensive group to 0.78 for the age four operational group. The optimal group had the greatest slope with an expected increase of 2.61, 2.75, 1.88, and 1.78 m in site index per additional meter of height at ages two, three, four, or five, respectively. Data from six different study sites indicate, the tallest (class one) and smallest (class five) trees changed percentile class the least often over time. As early as age two, over 40 % of observations in classes one and five had zero changes in class through age 13. Young tree data were effective in predicting SI25, and height dominance appeared generally set early in the rotation.