Loblolly and slash pine height and diameter are related to soil drainage in winter on poorly drained silt loams

Soil drainage characteristics in winter and the heights and diameters of 10-year-old loblolly and slash pines (Pinus taeda L. and P. elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) were measured on three poorly-drained silt loam sites that had been bedded, furrowed, or disked before planting. Quadratic response functions were used to determine the relationship between depth to water table or volume of drained soil in winter and mean tree height or diameter. These quadratic response functions (species × height or diameter: drainage characteristics) showed that diameter and height were significantly related to soil drainage in winter on these silt loams soils. Slash pines grew better than loblolly pines under more poorly drained conditions while loblolly pines grew better under the better drained conditions. On unbedded silt loams, the soil drainage in winter needed to maximize tree height was 42 cm for loblolly and 49 cm for slash pine. Pines planted on beds did not generally grow better than those on flat-disked plots because where bedding would be most benefical the practice did not form enough additional drainage to significantly influence pine development.     

Planting slash pine in a dense pasture sod

Recommendations for planting pines usually include providing a competition-free site to assure establishment and good early growth. When combining pines and pasture in agroforestry systems, the possibility of planting pines directly into a pasture sod without site treatment would be economically desirable. In south Georgia, USA, slash pine (Pinus elliottii) was planted into a pasture sod and on well-disked sites; both with and without annual fertilization. Partial weed control was maintained in subsequent years on the cultivated treatments and the pasture sod was mowed periodically.Slash pine establishment and growth rate through 5 years generally was not different among treatments. Survival was 96% intially and 86% after 5 years. The pines grew rapidly with no measurable advantage from cultivation or fertilization.This alternative to providing a competition-free environment needs to be tested under differing climates, soils, tree species, and pasture species. It could be a suitable technique in various situations and of special interest to small, nonindustrial landowners.Cooperative study between the Coastal Plain Experiment Station, University of Georgia, and USDA Forest Service, Tifton, GA 31794, USA.     

Relating the survival and growth of planted longleaf pine seedlings to microsite conditions altered by site preparation treatments

Pine plantations in the southeastern United States are often created using site preparation treatments to alleviate site conditions that may limit survival or growth of planted seedlings. However, little is understood about how site preparations affect longleaf pine (Pinus palustris P. Miller) seedlings planted on wet sites. In a 2-year study (2004 and 2005) on poorly drained, sandy soils of Onslow County, North Carolina, we examined the effects of common site preparation treatments on microsite conditions and quantified relationships between microsite conditions and longleaf pine seedling survival and growth. Treatments used in the study included site preparations designed to control competing vegetation (chopping and herbicide) combined with those that alter soil conditions (mounding and bedding). During both years, mounding and bedding treatments reduced the amount of moisture within the top 6 cm of soil and increased soil temperatures when compared to flat planting (p < 0.001). Soil moisture was inversely related to seedling mortality in 2004 (r² = 0.405) and inversely related to root collar diameter in 2005 (r² = 0.334), while light was positively related to root collar diameter in 2005 (r² = 0.262). Light availability at the seedling level was highest on treatments that effectively reduced surrounding vegetation. Herbicides were more effective than chopping at controlling vegetation in 2004 (p < 0.001) and 2005 (p = 0.036). Controlling competing vegetation, especially shrubs, was critical for increasing early longleaf pine seedling growth.     

Prescribed burning and hexazinone herbicide as release treatments in a sapling hardwood-loblolly pine stand

To compare release treatments, a randomized complete block study was established in a 7-year-old hardwood-loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stand in central Louisiana established using chopping and burning. There were 5 blocks of 3 treatments each: (1) check, (2) hexazinone applied once, and (3) prescribed backfiring applied twice. The first burn in December 1985 (7 years after site preparation) had a fire intensity of 90 kJ/s/m. The hexazinone herbicide was applied in April 1986 (the 8th year after site preparation) with a metered spotgun applicator at a rate of 3.0 kg active ingredient/ha. The second burn in March 1989 (the 11th year after site preparation) had a fire intensity of 106 kJ/s/m.The two prescribed burns increased the number of stems less than 1.5 m tall from 1,380 to 2,960/ha red maple (Acer rubrum L.), blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica var. bifora), and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.). Burning reduced the number of loblolly pines less than 2.0 m tall, which resulted in a significant increase in average loblolly pine height and diameter. Loblolly pine comprised 62 and 59% of the basal area on the check and burn treatments, respectively, 11 years after site preparation. Hexazinone reduced the number of blackgum, sweetgum, and oak (Quercus spp.) from 6,100 to 4,560 stems/ha and resulted in significantly less hardwood tree basal area than found on the check or burn treatments. Therefore, the herbicide treatment resulted in principally a loblolly pine stand (over 80% of the total tree basal area was pine) four years after hexazinone application.     

First-year freeze hardiness of pure species and hybrid taxa of Pinus elliottii (Engelman) and Pinus caribaea (Morelet)

Six pine taxa were compared for freeze hardiness following 2 whole plant freeze tests carried out in early and late winter 1993–94. Pure species included slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelman) (PEE), Caribbean pine (Pinus caribaea Morelet) var. bahamensis (PCB), and var. hondurensis (PCH). The same six slash pine parents served as the female parents of the pure slash pine taxon and were control pollinated to create the F₁ hybrids of slash pine × Caribbean pine var. bahamensis (F1B), the F₁ of slash pine × Caribbean pine var. hondurensis (F1H), and the backcross of slash pine × (slash pine × var. hondurensis (B1H). Four traits related to adaptation (bud set, foliage/stem damage, survival) were compared. Significant differences existing among the three species at all temperatures for both freeze tests. The 3 hybrid taxa were intermediate to parental taxa for all measured traits and only at extreme temperatures was there an indication of hybrid vigor. However, inspection of foliage damage curves to estimate temperatures at which 50 percent damage occurs indicated that the hybrids deviated from the mid parent value toward the more freeze susceptible parent. Discriminant functions which included foliage damage and survival traits provided the best segregation of taxa groupings and the combining of canonical variable 1 for these discriminant functions placed hybrids intermediate to parental taxa. Parent × taxa interaction was significant, suggesting that within these taxa, family to family variation occurred, but different maternal parents were associated with the freeze hardly families in different taxa.This is Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. R-04852 of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611     

Aboveground biomass of three conifers in the Qianyanzhou plantation, Jiangxi Province, China

Regressive models of the aboveground biomass for three conifers in subtropical China—slash pine (Pinus elliottii), Masson pine (P. massoniana) and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata)—were established. Regression analysis of leaf biomass and total biomass of each branch against branch diameter (d), branch length (L), d ³ and d ² L was conducted with functions of linear, power and exponent. A power law equation with a single parameter (d) was proved to be better than the rest for Masson pine and Chinese fir, and a linear equation with parameter (d ³) is better for slash pine. The canopy biomass was derived by adopting the regression equations to all branches of each individual tree. These kinds of equations were also used to fit the relationship between total tree biomass, branch biomass, foliage biomass and tree diameter at breast height (D), tree height (H), D ³ and D ² H, respectively. D ² H was found to be the best parameter for estimating total biomass. However, for foliage biomass and branch biomass, both parameters and equation forms showed some differences among species. Correlations were highly significant (P<0.001) for foliage biomass, branch biomass and total biomass, among which the equation of the total biomass was the highest. With these equations, the aboveground biomass of Masson pine forest, slash pine forest and Chinese fir forest were estimated, in addition to the allocation of aboveground biomass. The above-ground biomass of Masson pine forest, slash pine forest and Chinese fir forest was 83.6, 72.1 and 59 t/hm² respectively, and the stem biomass was more than the foliage biomass and the branch biomass. The underground biomass of these three forests which estimated with others’ research were 10.44, 9.42 and 11.48 t/hm², and the amount of carbon-fixed were 47.94, 45.14 and 37.52 t/hm², respectively. __________ Translated from Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2006, 17(8): 1382–1388 [译自: 应用生态学报]     

Aboveground biomass and nitrogen in four short-rotation woody crop species growing with different water and nutrient availabilities

We quantified the effect of water and nutrient availability on aboveground biomass and nitrogen accumulation and partitioning in four species from the southeastern United States, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), slash pine (Pinus elliottii), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). The 6-year-old stands received five levels of resource input (control, irrigation with 3.05 cm water week⁻¹, irrigation + 57 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, irrigation + 85 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, and irrigation + 114 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). Irrigation significantly increased foliage, stem, and branch biomass for sweetgum and sycamore, culminating in 103% and 238% increases in total aboveground biomass. Fertilization significantly increased aboveground components for all species resulting in 49, 58, 281, and 132% increases in total aboveground biomass for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Standing total aboveground biomass of the fertilized treatments reached 79, 59, 48, and 54 Mg ha⁻¹ for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Fertilization increased foliar nitrogen concentration for loblolly pine, sweetgum, and sycamore foliage. Irrigation increased total stand nitrogen content by 6, 14, 93, and 161% for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Fertilization increased total nitrogen content by 62, 53, 172, and 69% with maximum nitrogen contents of 267, 212, 237, and 203 kg ha⁻¹ for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Growth efficiency (stem growth per unit of leaf biomass) and nitrogen use efficiency (stem growth per unit of foliar nitrogen content) increased for the sycamore and sweetgum, but not the loblolly or slash pine.     

Response of planted Pinus taeda L. to brush control in Northern Louisana

Eradication of brush, defined as hardwood trees, shrubs, blackberries, vines, and volunteer pines, was not necessary to maximize juvenile pine growth in northern Louisiana Pinus taeda L. plantations. Pine height and diameter gains were similar on treatments when either (1) only the above ground portion of the brush was cut yearly or (2) both the above ground stems and root systems of brush species were controlled each year. At age 10, planted pines on both treatments averaged 0.9 m taller with a 2.5 cm greater stem diameter at breast height (1.4 m) than those on untreated checks. Total outside bark volume per pine averaged 51.9 dm³ on checks vs 78.5 dm³ on treated plots.     

Phosphorus fertilizer,soils, and site preparation influence loblolly pine productivity

Growth and yield of 12-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations were compared among five subsoil textures, seven site preparation methods, with and without phosphorus fertilizer. Phosphorus broadcast before planting increased the mean size of the loblolly pine trees. However, soil differences significantly influenced stand survival, and the method of site preparation significantly affected total stand yield. Therefore, the influence of phosphorus on total stand yield depended on soil type and site preparation method. The site preparation-fertilizer combinations yielding the most volume per soil type were: on the Lucy, Ruston, and Wagram soils, shear-windrow site preparation with phosphorus; on the Kirvin and Shubuta soils, chop-burn-harrow site preparation without phosphorus; on the Calloway and Henry soils, double chopping without phosphorus; on the Sawyer soil, chopburn-harrow site preparation with phosphorus; and on the Boswell, Cadeville, Gore, and Susquehanna soils, shear-windrow-harrow site preparation without phosphorus. Soil differences and phosphorus fertilization influenced the incidence of fusiform rust in 12-year-old stands of loblolly pine.     

Mulch and hexazinone herbicide shorten the time longleaf pine seedlings are in the grass stage and increase height growth

Herbaceous plant control with mulchor hexazinone herbicide influenced planted longleafpine (Pinus palustris Mill.) seedling totalheight on a silt loam site in central Louisiana. Thesite had been sheared and windrowed in 1991 and rotarymowed before three treatments were established in arandomized complete block design: (1) Untreatedcheck: no herbaceous plant control after planting;(2) Five mulches: on each plot, five randomlyassigned mulches were placed around seedlings; themulches were either a mat of cotton, hemlock andpolyester, pine straw, woven polypropylene, orperforated polyethylene; and (3) Hexazinone: theherbicide hexazinone at 1.12 kg active ingredient/hawas annually sprayed in the first two growing seasonsover the rows of unshielded seedlings. The longleafseedlings were planted in February 1993.After three growing seasons, seedlings on the mulchand hexazinone treatments were taller than those onthe check plots. About 59% of the mulched andhexazinone treated seedlings had grown out of thegrass stage (at least 12 cm tall) compared to 17% ofthe check seedlings. After five growing seasons, thepercentage of longleaf pine seedlings out of the grassstage was similar on all treatments and averaged 87%. However, these better growing pines were taller on themulch and hexazinone treatments (a 142-cm average)than on the checks (78 cm). Pine straw was anineffective mulch probably because the straw smotheredthe seedlings. The longleaf saplings were tallestwhen the perforated polyethylene mat was used.     

Root wrenching and lifting date of slash pine: Effects on morphology,survival, and growth

Slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) seedlings were subjected to three wrenching treatments: One root wrenching in early August; Three root wrenchings in early August, September, and October; and No wrenchings. Seedlings were then lifted on five dates between November and February based on the number of chilling hours accumulated. All wrenched seedlings had reduced shoot dry weight, smaller shoot-root ratio, and smaller stem diameter and height. These morphological differences translated into improved survival as well as increased diameter and height growth when measured one and two years after planting. Only seedlings wrenched three times demonstrated improved root fibrosity. Furthermore, only multiple wrenched stock showed greater resistance to drying imposed prior to planting. At the time of lifting, seedlings lifted latest had greater stem diameter, increased root dry weight and number of root tips, and improved shoot-root ratio. However, no survival differences were detected across lifts, and those seedlings lifted earliest demonstrated the best height and diameter growth.This paper is Journal Series No. R00695 of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611.     

Ectomycorrhizal development on pine by Pisolithus tinctorius in bare-root and container seedling nurseries

Vegetative inoculum of Pisolithus tinctorius (Pt) produced by Sylvan Spawn Laboratories (C:N 50) and by research methods (IMRD), spore-encapsulated seeds, spore pellets, and sprayed spores were compared for efficacy in forming Pt ectomycorrhizae on pines in operational bare-root nurseries in South Carolina, Florida, and Indiana and in microplots and containers in Georgia. Two rates of application (0.33 and 0.16 liter/m² of soil) of both sources of vegetative inoculum were similar in effect and formed abundant Pt ectomycorrhizae (Pt index > 50) and fruit bodies in all studies. Spore treatments formed consistently fewer Pt ectomycorrhizae than vegetative inoculum. The most effective spore treatment was spore encapsulated seeds. These results indicate that at a bed density of 270 seedlings/m², 0.6 to 0.7 liter of vegetative inoculum is needed to obtain Pt indices > 50 on 1,000 pine seedlings.     

Reduction of frost heaving of Norway spruce and Scots pine seedlings by planting in mounds or in humus

This study was carried out in northern Sweden to determine the effects of frost heaving on the establishment of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings in relation to planting methods. For this purpose, one year old containerised seedlings were planted on two sites and on two dates: during the spring (early planting) and during the fall (late planting). In each case, two planting depths (normal and deep planting) and four planting sites (in mineral soil in the depressions, in the scalp/trench area, on the top of the mound and in the untreated humus layer) were used. On each site, 50 seedlings were planted for each treatment. Frost heaving was observed and measured during two years. The amount of heaving was highest in the hole and almost insignificant on the top of the mound and in the humus layer. Planting depth influenced the degree of heaving only for Scots pine planted in the hole and was not related to the planting time.     

Relative effects of irrigation and intense shade on productivity of alley-cropped tall fescue herbage

The relative effects of irradiance and soil water on alley-cropped herbage are poorly understood. Our objective was to determine effects of irrigation on herbage productivity when tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.] was grown in two sites, a meadow and a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) alley (620 trees ha⁻¹), near Booneville, Arkansas. Three tall fescue entries were space planted in the meadow and pine alley with or without irrigation. Herbage mass and nutritive value were determined at 8-week intervals for 2 years. Mean daily PAR was 33.9 (2004) and 37.5 mol m⁻² d⁻¹ (2005) in the meadow, while the pine alley received 5.6 mol m⁻² d⁻¹ (17% of the meadow) in 2004 and 4.3 mol m⁻² d⁻¹ (11% of meadow) in 2005. Effect of tall fescue entry tended to be small relative to site and irrigation. Irrigation compensated for evapotranspiration in the meadow, but not in the pine alley when summer rainfall was about normal (2004) or low (2005). Nevertheless, site (PAR) had a greater effect on herbage specific leaf weight, leaf elongation rate, tillers plant⁻¹, mass tiller⁻¹, and total nonstructural carbohydrate concentration than soil water. Irrigation might have had greater impact on herbage productivity if more water had been applied or if canopy cover had been less extreme. Silvicultural practices should be imposed to improve penetration of solar irradiance to the alley crop.     

Tamarack and Black Spruce Growth on a Boreal Fen in Central Alberta 9 Years after Drainage

Tree growth was measured before, and 9 years after draining a boreal fen that supported a 50- to 60-year-old stand of tamarack (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch) and black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.). Treatments consisted of a series of ditches spaced 30, 40 or 50 m apart, and an undrained control. Nine years after drainage, the diameter, height, basal area, and volume growth of tamarack had increased by 2–5 times that on the control site. Black spruce growth on the drained site was 1.6–5 times that on the control. Tamarack average volume growth (1.20 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) on the drained site was superior to that of black spruce (0.21 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). In general for both species, there were no significant differences in growth between trees on the different ditch spacings. This result was attributed to the water table being low enough that adequate aeration zones existed across the strips between ditches on all spacings. Regeneration after treatment was greater on the drained than on the control plots, particularly in the disturbed areas near the ditches where new tamarack seedlings reached densities between 9400 and 12,000 stems ha⁻¹. There was no relationship between increased tree growth and tree distance from the ditches for both species, probably because the water table had been lowered sufficiently so that inadequate substrate aeration was no longer a limiting factor.     

A study on Xingkai Lake pine gall rust

The Xingkai Lake pine (Pinus takahasii Nakai) gall rust caused byCronartium quercuum(Berk.) Miyabc: Shirai is a serious stem rust in the northeast region of China. The alternate host is oak (Quercus mongolica Fisch). Germination of both acciospores and urediospores was optimal at 12°C and occurred over a range of temperatures, from 4°C to 32°C. Teliospores germinated optimally at 16–18°C and over a range of 8–28°C. All spores germinated best under natural light and dark conditions. Direct light inhibited germination even when followed by darkness. The incubation periods of urediospores and teliospores in inoculation experiments were 6–16 days and 3–33 days respectively. Anatomical studies ofCronartium quercuum galls showed that rust hyphae freely ramify through the intercellular spaces within parenchymatous tissues of the cortex, phloem, cambium and xylem. Hyphae are perennial; large haustoria arc cylindrical with rounded or blunt ends. Among the 12 fungicides tested for control of the rust, pine-tar, pine-tar: diesel oil (1:1, 1:3, 1:5), 75% Bravo emulsion and 70% Mancozeb emulsion applied to the galls produced satisfactory results.     

Integration of pines and pastures for hay and grazing

When combining pine and cattle production on improved pastures, grazing may have to be delayed for several years until trees are large enough to resist injury. During this period forage would be lost unless harvested for hay. This study in south Georgia, USA, examined hay production during the first 3 years, cattle production during the next 3 years, and effects of this management system on survival and growth of slash pine(Pinus elliottii) planted in widely-spaced rows within the pastures. Pines were planted at 225 trees/ha in configurations of 3.0 x 14.6 or 4.9 x 9.1 m in pastures recently sprigged or seeded with Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) or Pensacola bahiagrass(Paspalum notatum). Pastures were fertilized annually and cut for hay four or five times each year. Wide-row spacings permitted haying operations, but tree rows and turning areas removed 5 to 8 percent of the area from production. However, hay yields and liveweight gains by yearling cattle were near normal for this locale. Slash pine planted in these fertilized pastures survived well, grew rapidly, and only a few trees were killed during haying operations. After 6 years, 83 percent of the trees survived and averaged 6.5 m in height and 13.2 cm in diameter. Cattle killed a few trees by rubbing during the 4th year. Wide-row spacing of pines permits harvesting forage for hay while waiting for the trees to become large enough to permit grazing. This approach to agroforestry produces annual returns to the landowner while awaiting maturity of the pines.     

Cattle grazing and pine survival and growth in subterranean clover pasture

When combining pines and cattle on tame pasture, grazing is often delayed for several years until trees are large enough to resist injury. As an alternative approach to delayed or deferred grazing during the early years, this study in central Louisiana, USA, examined the effects of cattle grazing in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) pastures on slash (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) and loblolly pine (P. taeda L.) seeding survival and growth during the first 3 years of tree establishment. Pines were planted at about 1200 trees/ha in 3 rows on 0.4-ha subclover units with 1.3 m spacing within rows. Three grazing treatments included: (1) ungrazed pines, (2) limited grazing with a single-wire electric fence above the planted pines, and (3) grazed pines. Thirty Brahman crossbred cows with calves and a bull grazed the tame pasture on a controlled grazing, rotational basis from December through May each year, during the subterranean clover growing season. Pine trampling injury during the year was 8% on the grazed seedlings while essentially none occured under limited grazing. During the first 2 growing seasons, survival and height of the pines were significantly less on the grazed seedlings than on either the limited grazing or ungrazed seedlings. Pine heights from the limited grazing and ungrazed treatments were not different during the 3-year study; loblolly pine heights from the limited grazing treatment continued to be taller than the grazed treatment through the third year while the slash pine heights were similar for all treatments by the third year. Seedling mortality became more acute as severity of grazing injury increased; the greatest mortality occured when the terminal bud and needles were both browsed off.     

Canopy openings may prevent fir broom rust (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Melampsorella caryophyllacearum</Emphasis>) infections

Melampsorella caryophyllacearum is a heteroecious fungus that produces disease on silver fir resulting in galls that depreciate the value of trees. Currently, little is known about its epidemiology. The purpose of this study was to identify those site or management factors associated with fir broom rust infection. A 29-plot systematic sampling was carried out throughout all silver fir forests in the Spanish Pyrenees. In every sampling plot, we examined each tree for the presence of M. caryophyllacearum galls or witch’s brooms. We differentiated their position as either on the main stem or on the branches of trees. We identified the most susceptible stands by relating a compendium of tree and stand variables with the presence and severity of symptoms. Disease symptoms were observed in 11.8% (95% CI: 5.8–17.9%) of trees. Fir broom rust-infected trees tended to be those of larger diameters. The rust infection was observed in 55.2% (95% CI: 35.7–73.6%) of the stands. We identified a wide range of severities with 5 of 29 stands having more than 30% of trees infected. Fir broom rust appeared to be a widespread disease, although we observed important differences in terms of severity. The presence and severity of the rust in stands was associated with understories composed of more shade tolerant plant species and with longer periods without thinnings. Canopy opening should be experimentally tested as a possible control method.     

Probability models for pine twisting rust (Melampsora pinitorqua) damage in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands in Finland

Factors affecting the probability that pine twisting rust (Melampsora pinitorqua) damage occur in a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stand were analysed using the 7th Finnish National Forest Inventory data (NFI7) from southern Finland in 1977–1983. The inventory was based on systematic sampling. The NFI7 data was measured in clusters, each of which consisted of 21 sample plots. In addition to the stand and site characteristics measured for forest management planning purposes, the data included records of damage by pine twisting rust and occurrence of aspens (Populus tremula, the other host plant of the pathogen) in the stands. Two multilevel logit models were developed for predicting the overall probability of pine twisting rust damage and the probability of severe pine twisting rust damage. Site and stand characteristics were used as explanatory variables in the models. Residual variance in the models was studied on the inventory crew, cluster and year levels. The occurrence of aspens and site fertility were the most important factors increasing the probability that pine twisting rust damage will occur in a stand. The damage probability also decreased with increasing effective temperature sum calculated for the location. The overall damage probability was equally high on peatlands and on mineral soil if there were aspens in the stand. If, however, there were no aspens in the stand, the probability of damage was higher on mineral soils than on peatlands. In addition, the overall probability was lower in naturally regenerated stands than in planted or sown stands, and it decreased with increasing mean age of pines. In both models, the residual variance was significant on the both the inventory crew and the cluster levels.