Phosphorus Fertilization at Establishment in Loblolly and Slash Pine Stands on Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Sites
There is an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 acres of loblolly and slash pine stands that have been fertilized with phosphorus (P) each year on P-deficient sites in the southeastern U.S. The majority of these P-deficient sites are found in the Atlantic and Gulf Flatwoods where soils drainage is poor. Phosphorus is applied to these P-deficient poorly drained Flatwoods sites at 250 lbs/ac as triple super phosphate (TSP or 0-46-0) or as diammonium phosphate (DAP or 18-46-0). Loblolly and slash pine growth response is usually large (30% to 400% volume increases) and long lived (10 to 15 years or more) with this single addition of P at or soon after planting. Diagnostic tools used to determine if a site is P-deficient are: (1) soil series knowledge, (2) soil test-P value(s), (3) foliar test-P value(s), (4) visual indicators, and (5) indicator plants.

Opportunities for Fertilizing Pine Plantations
Fertilizing pine plantations has captured the attention of forest landowners across the South. While the majority of stands receiving fertilizer treatments are on forest industry lands, private nonindustrial landowners are increasingly willing to consider fertilization. Growth benefits can be gained from fertilizer applications, but a good prescription is needed to insure economic response as growth responses can vary greatly across soil and drainage classes. Before you begin any fertilization program consider several points.

Fertilize to optimize your forest’s timber production potential
From the August 2004 issue of The Forestry Source - Dr. Micheal Blazier

Straw Raking in Southern Pine Stands and Fertilization Recommendations
Pine straw, the uppermost forest floor layer of undecayed needles, is raked, baled, and sold as landscaping mulch in the southeastern U.S. The value of pine straw as a forest product is increasing in Georgia. Forest landowners in Georgia received $15.5, $17.5, and $22.4 million revenues from pine straw in 2000, 2001, and 2002, respectively (Boatright and McKissick 2003). Conversely, annual timber revenues in Georgia have declined by over 18% during this same period (Boatright and McKissick 2003). Pine straw revenues have helped many landowners maintain reasonable cash flows to achieve attractive rates of return (Dickens et al. 2001) on their forestland. Internal rates of return can be increased from 8 to 11 % without pine straw production to 13 to 20 % with annual pine straw income in loblolly and slash pine stands (Dickens et al. 2001).