Influence of Bed Height on the Growth of Slash and Loblolly Pine on a Leon Fine Sand in Northeast Florida

Abstract Genetically improved slash (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) and loblolly pine (P. taeda L.) seedlings were planted on a Leon fine sand soil on a flatwoods site which received disking, low-bedding, or high-bedding treatment. After ten growing seasons there was no difference between slash pine growth on disked and low-bedded plots. High bedding improved slash pine growth over the other treatments. Loblolly pine responded more than slash to bed height with a clear trend of increasing growth and yield with higher beds. Wood production trends were as follows: (1) Slash pine produced the most wood volume on disked plots; (2) there was no species difference on low-bedded plots, and; (3) loblolly was better than slash pine on high-bedded plots.