VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Pinus elliottii | Slash Pine 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Slash pine is an important timber species in the southeastern United
States.  Its strong, heavy wood is excellent for construction purposes.
Because of its high resin content, the wood is also used for railroad
ties, poles, and piling [7,24,26,27].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Slash pine seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals.  Cattle and deer
occasionally browse seedlings [24].  In the St. Vincent National
Wildlife Refuge of northwestern Florida, slash pine made up 0.7 percent
of Indian sambar deer rumens and 0.6 percent of white-tailed deer rumens
[34].

The dense foliage of slash pine provides cover and shelter for wildlife
[24].  The endangered red-cockaded woodpecker is known to nest in slash
pine, although it is not this cavity dweller's preferred species [15].
Large slash pine provide nest sites for bald eagles [48].


PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Because of slash pine's rapid growth, it is used to stabilize soil and
rehabilitate mine spoils.  It grows well on coal mine spoils in
northern Alabama [24,40].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Slash pine is the preferred naval stores species.  Its resin is used for
gum turpentine and rosin production [24,41].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Slash pine forest management requires integration of three primary uses:
turpentine, wood, and forage production.  Intense production and
management for one use will likely reduce production for another use.
For instance, turpentining reduces slash pine growth by 25 percent while
the tree is worked, a closed canopy reduces understory forage
production, and fire used to improve forage production and quality may
damage young trees [26].

Slash pine is best regenerated using even-aged management.  Both the
seed tree and shelterwood silviculture systems are effective.  For
adequate regeneration, leave 6 to 10 seed trees per acre and 25 to 40
shelterwood trees per acre.  Overstory trees should be removed 1 to 3
years after seedlings are established.  Seedbed preparation increases
seedling establishment.  Pine growth is enhanced by site preparation and
removal of hardwood and saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) understory
competition [22].

Cattle grazing is extensive on pine flatwoods in the Southeast.  Pearson
[31] reported that light to moderate grazing did not affect
establishment, survival, or growth of seeded or planted slash pine up to
5 years old.  Heavy grazing decreased survival, but most losses occurred
in the first year.  It is recommended that cattle be withheld from
grazing young stands until after the first growing season [31].

Disease:  The two most serious diseases of slash pine are fusiform rust
(Cronartium quercuum f. sp. fusiforme) and annosus root rot
(Heterobasidion annosum) [22,24].  Fusiform rust is a stem disease that
affects seedlings and saplings.  The younger the pine is when it becomes
infected, the more likely it is to die [35].  Removing trees with severe
stem galls minimizes timber losses and improves stand quality [3].

Annosus root rot infects thinned stands.  The fungus colonizes on
freshly cut stumps and spreads by root contact.  Thick litter is
associated with sporophore development [9].  Annosus root rot is most
damaging to slash pine if there is good surface drainage.  Slash pine
grown on shallow soils with a heavy subsoil clay layer are not
susceptible to annosus root rot [24].

Lophodermella cerina, a needle-blight-causing fungus, mainly affects
slash pine close to metropolitan areas.  Air pollution is thought to
worsen this disease [38].  Pitch canker, caused by Fusarium moniliforme
var. subglutinans, is common in plantations and can girdle a pine [24].

Insects:  Insects that attack slash pine include pales weevil (Hylobius
pales), black turpentine beetle (Dendroctonus terebrans), engraver
beetles (Ips spp.), and defoliators such as pine web worm (Tetralopha
robustella), blackheaded pine sawfly (Neodiprion excitans), redheaded
pine sawfly (N. lecontei), and Texas leafcutting ant (Atta texana) [24].

South Florida slash pine is less susceptible to insects and disease than
the typical variety of slash pine.  Grass-stage seedlings of south
Florida slash pine are attacked by brown-spot needle blight (Scirrhia
acicola) [24].

Related categories for Species: Pinus elliottii | Slash Pine