Thinning Increases Loblolly Pine Vigor and Resistance to Bark Beetles¹

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Abstract
Twenty-seven 1-ac plots were thinned to a basal area of 70, 100, or 130 ft²/ac, and 9 plots were left unthinned to be used as a control. Changes in diameter growth, height growth, and oleoresin exudation pressure (OEP) are presented for the first 3 years following thinning. Height growth was lower in the thinned plots, but diameter growth in plots thinned to 70 and 100 ft²/ac was significantly greater than the unthinned plots and those thinned to 130 ft²/ac. OEP was also greater in thinned plots in the first two years; the difference was not significant in the third year. Introductions of southern pine beetles into the plots resulted in a significantly lower proportion of successful attacks in thinned plots in the first two years following thinning. It was concluded that increased tree vigor along with the increase in tree spacing following thinning does reduce susceptibility to southern pine beetle attack when stands are thinned to a basal area of 100ft²/ac or less. South. J. Appl. For. 11(1):28-31

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