Restoring the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem: The Role of Container Seedling Technology

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystems once occupied 90 mil- lion acres in the southern United States' coastal plain. Restoration of longleaf pine ecosystems has been diffi cult because reestablishment of the species by either natural or artifi cial means has been problematic. The application of container seed- ling technology to longleaf pine markedly improves reforestation success. It allows nursery managers and silviculturists to more effectively deal with the inherent seed and seedling characteristics that make longleaf establishment so diffi cult. Improved seed collecting and processing and seedling cultural techniques have resulted in planting stock that can be successfully established in the fi eld. As a result, a 10-fold increase in longleaf pine seedling production has occurred in the last few years to meet restoration needs across the South.

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