However, tree health and productivity must also be considered, along with possible financial tradeoffs.įor example, a basal area of 75 square feet provides enough shade to minimize herbaceous vegetation on the forest floor, allowing for efficient removal of straw. The important thing for landowners to remember is that production increases with stand density up to about 15 years of age. 2018 Duryea 2000).įor less intensively managed mature plantations and mixed stands, rates are lower for a given basal area. Annual longleaf pine straw production rates range from 100 to 250 20-pound bales per year, or 2,000–5,000 pounds per acre (Dickens et al. Although vendors tend to prefer longleaf pine straw because of its color retention, longer needle length, and slower rate of deterioration, the species has the lowest rate of production. Slash pine plantations produce slightly less pine straw, from about 3,000 pounds per acre up to about 5,000 pounds per acre per year, or 150–250 20-pound bales per acre (Gholz et al.
This corresponds to 175 to 275 20-pound bales per acre. Although pine straw production research is limited for Mississippi, loblolly pine straw production should reach its upper level (3,500–5,500 pounds per acre per year) when stand basal area approaches 100–125 square feet per acre (Dickens et al. Loblolly tends to have higher production than slash and longleaf pine. In addition to stand age, straw production rates are closely correlated with basal area of the stand and site characteristics. Needle fall then remains steady until around age 35. For unfertilized stands, needle fall tends to increase annually up to age 15, when needle production reaches a maximum, and then declines slightly each year. YieldsĪ pine tree typically retains its needles for 2 years, after which they shed and new ones grow. As with all forest activities, a management plan outlining objectives, stand characteristics, and other information should be completed before harvesting pine straw. This publication addresses harvesting, including expected yields, timing, location, equipment and labor, preparing for harvest, raking and baling, and potential impacts of litter removal. For example, it does not float and wash away like bark chips it can be easier to apply and costs less than stone and, unlike synthetics, it adds nutrients and promotes soil tilth in landscaping beds to stimulate healthy plant development. In addition, it has many advantages over other mulches. Pine straw is a popular landscape mulching material because of its insulating and aesthetic qualities. Although North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia continue to dominate the pine straw industry, there is interest in harvesting pine straw in Mississippi while simultaneously managing for timber. In addition to timber and wildlife, landowners can lease their land for recreation, grow pole timber and veneer, or propagate a variety of products intended for human consumption. Forest landowners have many opportunities to diversify the products they manage.
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