Initial survival and growth of a forest plantation with Pinus halepensis Mill., Pinus eldarica Medw., and Pinus brutia Ten. compared with seedlings Pinus estevezii (Mart.) Perry established naturally in Northeastern México

Abstract

The objectives of this study were: 1) to compare height growth of the naturally regenerated native coniferous species Pinus estevezii (Mart.) Perry with the height growth of three Mediterranean pine species(Pinus halepensis Mill., Pinus eldarica Medw. and Pinus brutia Ten.; and 2) to evaluate the survival rate of the Mediterranean pine species planted in a degraded forest stand by poor forest management and overgrazing practices in the eastern Sierra Madre of the State of Nuevo León, Mexico. Comparisons in height growth were conducted by a covariance analysis using the age as a covariate, comparing the slopes of regression models. Age and height for each species fitted better power regression functions and t tests for the slopes indicated that the rate of height growth was higher for the native naturally regenerated pine species. Between the Mediterranean pine species there was no statistical difference in this growth parameter, although P. halepensis had a higher growth rate than the rest of these plant species. The survival rate, by 1995, was 63, 47 and 28 p. 100 for P. halepensis, P. brutia and P. eldarica respectively. This information showed that is is feasible to reforest degraded forest stands with Mediterranean pine species, which may partially promote natural regeneration of the native pine species P. estevezii in Northeastern Mexico.