Rocky Mountain Research Station

Title: Historical forest seedling production in the southern United States: 2008 to 2009 planting season

Author: Enebak, Scott A.

Date: 2011

Source: In: Riley, L. E.; Haase, D. L.; Pinto, J. R., tech. coords. National Proceedings: Forest and Conservation Nursery Associations - 2010. Proc. RMRS-P-65. Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 19-34.

Station ID: P-RMRS-65

Description: Seedling production across the southern US for the 2008 to 2009 planting season was 1.05 billion seedlings, a decrease of 53.6 million (5%) from the 2007 to 2008 planting season. The vast majority (90%) of reduction in conifer seedling production from 2008 was bareroot loblolly (Pinus taeda) and slash (P. elliottii) pine. Hardwoods were about 1% of regional seedling production, a decrease of 2.7% from the 2007 planting season. Only 1% of all seedlings were grown in containers, with longleaf pine (P. palustris) comprising the majority of this production. During the past 80 years of tree planting, seedling outplanting peaked at 1.1 million ha (2.7 million ac) in 1991 and has declined annually. In addition to fewer hectares planted and a reduction in seedlings produced, more than 25 forest seedling nurseries have ceased operations since 1995.

Keywords: bareroot nurseries, container nurseries, conifer seedlings, hardwood seedlings

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Citation

Enebak, Scott A.  2011.  Historical forest seedling production in the southern United States: 2008 to 2009 planting season.   In: Riley, L. E.; Haase, D. L.; Pinto, J. R., tech. coords. National Proceedings: Forest and Conservation Nursery Associations - 2010. Proc. RMRS-P-65. Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 19-34..