Competition intensity varies with hardwood species identity and constrains stand-level productivity in southeastern pine–hardwood mixtures compared to loblolly pine monocultures

Abstract

We examined the performance of sweetgum ( Liquidambar styraciflua L.), cherrybark oak ( Quercus pagoda Raf.), and loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) in two-species pine–hardwood mixtures (sweetgum : loblolly pine and cherrybark oak : loblolly pine) at various planting densities (1482–1976 trees per hectare (TPH)) over 23 years in northern Louisiana, USA. Species were planted in alternating rows with hardwood establishment occurring 1 year prior to loblolly pine. Mixtures were also compared to loblolly pine monocultures at a common density (1482 TPH) to assess whether mixing improved productivity. Sweetgum exerted more competitive pressure on loblolly pine than cherrybark oak. At final measurement, sweetgum survival statistically exceeded that of loblolly pine across mixture density. Moreover, sweetgum cumulative basal area and volume growth nearly tripled that of loblolly pine in balanced high-density mixtures (1976 TPH, 50 pine : 50 hardwood). In contrast, cherrybark oak basal area and volume growth did not significantly exceed loblolly pine at any density. At a common density (1482 TPH), loblolly pine monoculture cumulative basal area and volume significantly exceeded those of mixtures with sweetgum and cherrybark oak by 19% and 24%, respectively. Collectively, these results indicate that growing loblolly pine in mixture with these two species did not produce complementary interactions and negatively affected stand-level growth.