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Initial Seedling Survival and Growth of Western Coast and Mexican Pine Species in East Texas

Alexandria Cook, Brian P. Oswald*, K. Rebecca Kidd, Hans M. Williams, Anusha Shrestha

The southeastern United States produces almost a quarter of the world’s timber, and a potential shift in growing conditions influencing tree survival and growth could be ecologically and economically detrimental. Changing climates has prompted concern as droughts are becoming more severe and frequent, and in East Texas, non-native species adapted to predicted conditions might be considered. Loblolly (P. taeda) with two western United States pine species (ponderosa, Pinus ponderosa and Jeffrey pine P. jeffreyi) were planted in 2021 and shortleaf (P. enchinata) pine with Mexican pine species (Caribbean, P. caribaea, Durango, P. durangensis, and Mexican weeping P. patula) seedlings were planted in 2023. Survival and growth were evaluated at four sites between 2022 and 2024. Of the seedlings planted in 2021, loblolly pine had the greatest survival. Mexican pine seedlings planted in 2023 had low survival rates, with shortleaf having the greatest survival. The native loblolly and shortleaf pines had the greatest diameter and height growth. Ponderosa pine had the greater survival and growth of the non-native 2021 species and the Mexican Weeping pine of the 2023 species.

Multiple contributing factors influenced the survival and growth of the seedlings. Drought during the summers of 2022 and 2023 and below average growing season precipitation limited available soil moisture. Competition from understory vegetation could have lessen chances for species establishment. Differences in soils compared to native range soils may also have influenced our results. The timing of planting followed east Texas approach, rather than at native sites, and could have impacted seedling success.