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Home → Publications → Tree Planters' Notes → Tree Planters' Notes Volume 57, Number 1 (2014) → Direct Seeding Southern Pines: Development of Techniques, Use, and Current Status

Direct Seeding Southern Pines: Development of Techniques, Use, and Current Status

The “golden-age of lumbering” of the early 20th century left millions of acres of forest land in need of reforestation. Forests of the western Gulf Coast States of the South were especially decimated because of the development and use of steam-powered logging equipment. Faced with this reforestation need, scientists of the Southern Forest Experiment Station began an effort to develop direct seeding as a regeneration option. The key to successful direct seeding was found to be protecting seed from bird and rodent predation. Increasing the quantity and quality of pine seeds, controlling hardwood competition, and developing appropriate site preparation treatments were also important for successful direct seeding. The seeding technology resulted in successful restoration of millions of acres of southern pine forests. Direct seeding, however, is now infrequently used primarily because of the lack of large, open areas needing reforestation. This article includes an historical overview of direct seeding in the South as well as guidelines for current use of this reforestation technique.


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Author(s): James Barnett

Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 57, Number 1 (2014)

Volume: 57

Number: 1