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The Forest Service National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) is a leading source of technical information for nurseries and land managers regarding production and planting of trees and other native plants for reforestation, restoration, and conservation.

 
NPN Protocol Details Image

Pinus (rigida)

John M. Englert
USDA NRCS - Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center
Bldg. 509, BARC - East, E. Beaver Dam Road
Beltsville, Maryland 20705
(301) 504-8175
(301) 504-8741 (fax)
john.englert@wdc.usda.gov
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/mdpmc/
Family Scientific Name: Pinaceae
Family Common Name: Pine family
Scientific Name: Pinus rigida P. Mill.
Common Name: pitch pine
Species Code: PINRIG
Ecotype: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
General Distribution: P. rigidais found from New Brunswick to southern Quebec and Ontario,and south to Georgia. It is dominant in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. It grows in dry sandy soil.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Bareroot (field grown)
Stock Type: 3+0 bareroot seedlings
Time To Grow: 3 Years
Target Specifications: Root systems: Bareroot seedlings should have well-developed root systems.Long roots are pruned as needed at harvest.<br> Height: 2+0 harvested seedlings are 18-24".
Propagule Collection: Cones were collected between 10/18 to 10/25/94.
Propagule Processing: Seed Processing: Immediately after collection, cones were soaked in water overnight and air-dried in cloth collection bags which are laid out in full sun on greenhouse benches. Cones are shaken when open to release seeds and seeds are dewinged by hand rubbing.Seed storage: Seeds were planted after drying and were not stored.
Seeds/Kg: Uncounted; between 92,000 and 131,600; 105,000 average. Germination is untested. 2% of seeds planted in 1996 were harvested in 1999. Purity after cleaning has been estimated at between 87 to 100%.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Although no embryo dormancy is indicated (USDA, 1974), seeds are sown in outdoor nursery beds in the fall to allow natural germination in the spring.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:		 Propagation Environment: Outdoor nursery beds
Sowing Date: Seeds were sown November 21, 1996.
Sowing/Planting Technique: Seeds are dusted with fungicide and hand sown into rows which are 5 to 6 inches apart; seeds are sown side by side with no space in between seeds. Ectomycorrhizae are sprinkled over the seed before covering with 1 to 2 inches of soil. The beds are then mulched with aged sawdust which is scraped back in spring before seedling emergence.
Establishment Phase: Seedlings emerged the spring following fall sowing. Newly emerged seedlings are monitored closely for irrigation needs. Young seedlings are shaded as soon as they emerge with poly screening at 30%. Shade cloth remains over seedlings until mid-August.
Active Growth Phase: The NPMC soil is a nutrient-poor sandy loam which is amended with organic matter, such as composted leaves and manure. Seedlings in the nursery beds are fertilized from mid-April with a granular 10-10-10 once a week through early June. From mid-June through late July, the 10-10-10 is alternated with a granular urea every other week. From late July through late August the seedlings are fertilized with 10-10-10 every two weeks. Overhead irrigation is used after every fertilization. The rate of water applied is determined by soil moisture prior to irrigation.
Hardening Phase: During mid- to late summer, fertilization is cut back to twice monthly. Beginning in September, irrigation is only used in a severe droughty situation.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: Conifer seedlings are being harvested in late February prior to delivery to the parks in March, since longer storage of conifers in our cooler has resulted in desiccation, mildew and death of seedlings. A bareroot seedling harvester is used to lift plants in the woody bed. Seedlings are then hand-sorted by size and tied in manageable bundles. Roots are pruned as needed, dipped into a mycorrhizal slurry, wrapped, moist, in air-tight plastic and held in cold storage at 40F for up to a month until delivery. This procedure has prevented drying of the roots during outplanting.
Length of Storage: 1 month
References: Gleason, H and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. 2nd edition. New York Bot. Garden.

USDA, Forest Service. 1974. Seeds of Woody Plants in the United States. USDA, Ag. Handbook 450.

USDA NRCS National Plant Materials Center. Woody bed and container plant records. Unpublished.

Citation:

Davis, Kathy; King, Brandy; Kujawski, Jennifer. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Bareroot (field grown) Pinus rigida P. Mill. plants 3+0 bareroot seedlings; USDA NRCS - Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center Beltsville, Maryland. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/02). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.