MSUES Guide to Thinning Southern Pines

Mississippi State University Extension Pine Thin

Stand Density Index (SDI) is used to help determine if a pine planation needs thinning. Pine Thin uses the average number of trees per acre and the average diameter at breast height (DBH) of trees in your plantation to determine if a thinning is needed. Specific density management diagrams have been developed for each of the four major southern pine species (loblolly pine, shortleaf pine, longleaf pine, and slash pine). Pine Thin provides a graphical depiction of the density of a pine plantation indicating if the stand needs thinning (i.e., overstocked) or if thinning is not yet needed (i.e., well-stocked). The line between well stocked and understocked (full site occupancy line) is also provided as a target density for the residual stand that should be left after thinning. If average number of trees per acre and DBH are not known, Pine Thin also allows for the entry of plot data (either 1/10th or 1/100th acre) and will then compute tress per acre, average diameter, and basal area.

Key Features:

- Graphical depiction of pine plantation density

- Indicates graphically if thinning is or is not needed

- Simple timber inventory calculator included

- Inventory data from either 1/10th or 1/100th acre plots

- Reports average trees per acre, diameter, and basal area

- Includes a step by step guide to forest inventory plots

Key Features:

- Graphical depiction of pine plantation density

- Indicates graphically if thinning is or is not needed

- Simple timber inventory calculator included

- Inventory data from either 1/10th or 1/100th acre plots

- Reports average trees per acre, diameter, and basal area

- Includes a step by step guide to forest inventory plots