Models to predict whole-disk specific gravity and moisture content in planted longleaf pine from cutover and old field sites

Efforts to restore longleaf pine across the southeast United States have occurred on two distinct site types: cutover forests and old agricultural fields. We measured wood bark physical properties of unthinned planted from 16 stands Georgia, ages 12 25, with eight sampled each type. Three-hundred twenty trees were felled 3572 disks collected within trees. Wood specific gravity (SG), moisture content (MC), proportion measured. Non-linear mixed effects models developed predict variation in SG respect relative height, age, Cutover sites had higher whole-tree (0.504 vs 0.455) (0.374 0.347) than The explained 50% 37% variability SG, respectively. Moisture fitted as a function for (R 2 = 0.87) 0.71). Bark thickness, dry mass, green volume forest sites. Trees included both defect-free defect-containing trees; however, no significant differences found. These results provide important information utilization plantation pine.