Optimal management of shortleaf pine plantations in the Central United States

Abstract

A dynamic programming (DP) algorithm was developed for shortleaf pine in the Central United States. All thinning strategies examined (above, below, above and below, and mechanical) improved economic returns with thinning from above returning the highest soil expectation value (SEV). A planting density of 500 trees/ac maximized economic returns under all economic conditions. SEV was found to increase with site, and rotation length decreased on better sites. As sawtimber stumpage prices decreased relative to pulpwood prices, thinning was no longer economically advantageous. Finally, under conditions of uncertainty related to future prices, rotation length decreases slightly.