VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Pinus rigida | Pitch Pine 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Pitch pine is not a productive timber tree when compared to other
eastern conifers, but it may be the most productive tree on unfavorable
sites [32].  Fully stocked even-aged stands can yield 15,000 to 25,000
board feet per acre (210-350 cubic m/ha) [25].  The vigorous sprouting
of pitch pine is a liability with regards to wood production because
trees often have multiple, crooked trunks and flat tops.  Pitch pine is
used for rough construction, pulp, crating, and fuel.  In the past,
pitch pine was used for ship building, mine timbers, and railroad ties
because the wood contains large amounts of resin and resists decay [25].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Pitch pine seeds are important food for mice, squirrels, quail, and
small birds.  In areas where deer populations are high, white-tailed
deer commonly feed on pitch pine needles [34].  Cottontail rabbits
browse pitch pine seedlings.


PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Pitch pine is able to thrive on both dry and wet sites and has good
potential for revegetation.  A pitch pine-loblolly pine hybrid has
proven useful for reforestation in Korea [22].  However, on reclaimed
strip-mines, survival of planted pitch pine seedlings was only 32
percent after 6 years and 7 percent after 28 years [8,22,39].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Pitch pine is best regenerated under even-aged silviculture.
Traditional timber management strategies include control of competing
hardwoods and seedbed preparation.  Pitch pine self-prunes in closed
stands not damaged by fire.  Pitch pine sprouts initially grow slower
than oak sprouts; therefore, fire or broadleaf herbicides may be
necessary to suppress the oak [22,25,28].  Mixed pine-hardwood forests
can provide better wildlife habitat, and timber quality and quantity
than either pure pine or pure hardwood types.  Therefore, depending on
management goals pitch pine may be best managed in a mixed forest
environment [43].

Many insects, including the pitch pine looper (Lambdina athasaria
pellucidaria), attack pitch pine and periodically cause damage.  Several
fungi also attack pitch pine, but rarely cause serious damage [25].

Acid rain and air pollution may be contributing to a decline in growth
of pitch pine [18,30,36].  Cores taken from pitch pine in the New Jersey
Pine Barrens show a decrease in growth over the past 25 years.  A
statistical relationship exists between stream pH and growth rates, but
a definite link cannot be made [18].  Acid solutions administered to
seedlings resulted in inhibited root growth due to aluminum toxicity, but top
growth increased owing to increased availability of nutrients [36].  

Pitch pines growing in coastal areas are stressed by salt spray during
major storms as evidenced by needle loss and color change [34].

Related categories for Species: Pinus rigida | Pitch Pine