MOISTURE CONTENT AND SPECIFIC GRA VITY OF THE FOUR MAJOR SOUTHERN PINES UNDER THE SAME AGE AND SITE CONDmONS

Slash,lobloUy,lonaieaf, and shortleafpines in northern Louisiana were examined for differences in moisture content (MC) and basic specific gravity (SO) of wood and bark in the complete tree, root, stem, and branches and differences in diameter at breast height (dbh), total height, and taproot length of trees in even-aged plantations under identical site conditions, planting densities, and management practices. The four species did not differ statistically in stemwood, branchwood, or complete-tree wood SO on any of the three sites examined (wet. intermediate, and dry). Shortleafhad a significantly higher rootwood SO on aU sites. The wet site generally produced wood with a lower SO, and the dry site produced wood with a higher SO. Differences among species in MC appeared dependent upon the tree component and site condition, while intersite differences in MC were generally component and species dependent. No significant difference among the four species was detected for dbh, total height, or taproot length on the dry or intermediate site. Shortleaf on the wet site produced a significantly shorter stem and taproot than the other species. Tallest trees grew on the intermediate site.