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.     

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.     

Influence of herbicides and felling,fertilization, and prescribed fire on longleaf pine establishment and growth through six growing seasons

Recovery of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris P. Mill.) is necessary to arrest the decline of many associated plants and animals, and the establishment of longleaf pine on much of its original range requires artificial regeneration and diligence. In central Louisiana, USA, two fertilization levels (No [NF] or Yes [F-36 kg/ha N and 40 kg/ha P]) in combination with three vegetation treatments (check, two prescribed fires [PF], or multi-year vegetation control by herbicidal and mechanical means [IVM]) were applied to container-grown longleaf pine plantings in two studies. In Study 1 (grass dominated), 6-year-old longleaf pine survival was 52% on the F–checks, 78% on the F–PF plots, and averaged 93% on the other four treatment combinations. Longleaf pine trees on the IVM plots (3.4 m) were significantly taller than on the other two vegetation treatments, and trees on the PF plots (1.8 m) were taller than trees on the check plots (1.2 m). In Study 2 (brush dominated), survival averaged 65% across the six-treatment combinations after 6 years. The longleaf pine trees were 4.7 m tall on the IVM plots and averaged 3.9 m tall on the check and PF plots. Fertilization increased P concentrations in the soil and longleaf pine foliage, while fertilization did not significantly affect longleaf pine height growth. Native fertility was not apparently limiting longleaf pine development contrary to prior research recommendations for these soils. In both studies, the IVM treatment reduced early herbaceous competition and the number and height of arborescent plants. The PF treatment reduced arborescent plant height on the grassy site where fires were more intense than on the brushy site.     

Response of slash pine planted on mounds in central and southwestern Louisiana

On two silt loam flatwoods in Louisiana, use of mounds as planting sites for slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) was shown to be more effective than planting without mounds (untreated control) after six growing seasons in the field. Mounds formed were of two sizes: low mounds made of 550 dm³ of soil and high mounds made of 1,000 dm³ of soil. One site was in central Louisiana and had two drainage classes: a somewhat poorly drained Caddo-Messer complex and a poorly drained Caddo soil. On both drainage classes, pine survival was not affected by treatment, but the incidence of fusiform rust galls on the main stem (caused by Cronartium quercuum (Berk.) Miyabe ex Shirai f. sp. fusiforme Burdsall and Snow) was greater on trees planted on mounds. The second site was a poorly drained Caddo soil in southwestern Louisiana. At this site, there were fewer surviving pines on controls than on mounds, but the incidence of rust galls was not affected by treatment. At both sites, pines were taller and had a greater mean diameter at breast height on mounds than on controls. Mound size did not influence tree size at either site.     

Site preparation: Water relations and growth of newly planted jack pine and white spruce

Bareroot jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) were planted near Elliot Lake, Ontario, on a boreal reforestation site. Site preparation treatments were mixed, mineral and undisturbed (i.e., control) soil. Seedling water relations and growth were examined during the first field season. During the first 28 days after planting, jack pine base (i.e., predawn) and minimum xylem water potential readings were more negative in the control site preparation treatment. White spruce, during the first 10 days, in all site preparation treatments had base and minimum xylem water potential readings more negative than –1.7 MPa. By day 28 base xylem water potentials of white spruce had increased to approximately –1.0 MPa in all site preparation treatments. As the growing season progressed, white spruce minimum xylem water potential readings ceased exceeding the measured turgor loss point first in the mixed followed by the mineral and then control site preparation treatment. Jack pine minimum xylem water potential readings, in all site preparation treatments, almost never exceeded the measured turgor loss point. Water stress and stomatal optimization integrals, day 28 and 125, for both species showed least water stress and greater stomatal optimization in the mixed, mineral and control site preparation treatments, respectively. Both species had less new root growth in the field during the first 28 days after planting compared to seedlings grown for 28 days in a greenhouse for root growth capacity testing. Root growth at 28 days and both shoot and root development at the end of the growing season, were greatest to least in mixed, mineral, and control site preparation treatments, respectively.     

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.     

Diversity of northern plantations peaks at intermediate management intensity

Tree diversity is an important component of biodiversity. Management intensification is hypothesized to affect tree diversity. However, evidence to support the relationship between management intensity and tree diversity in northern forests is lacking. This study examined the effects of fertilization, site preparation, and brush control on tree species diversity, shade tolerance diversity and size diversity of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.), white pine (Pinus strobus L.) and white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) plantations, 15 years after planting in Ontario, Canada. Species diversity and shade tolerance diversity were highly correlated, so were diameter size diversity and height size diversity. Fertilization did not affect the tree diversity indices of any plantations. Species diversity and shade tolerance diversity was interactively influenced by site preparation and brush control in the black spruce, white pine, and white spruce plantations, showing that the highest diversity occurred on sites with intensive site preparation without brush control, whereas on sites with brush control, diversity was higher with least intensity of site preparation. However, in the jack pine plantation, neither species diversity nor shade tolerance diversity differed with management intensification, and is attributed to the fast capture of site resources by the planted crop trees of jack pine which minimized establishment of non-crop species. Tree size diversity increased with site preparation intensity in the jack pine and black spruce plantations, while it decreased with brush control in the white pine and white spruce plantations. We concluded that (1) the effects of management intensification on diversity of northern plantations differ with growth habit of planted crop tree species and (2) species diversity and tree size diversity tend to be highest at intermediate levels of silvicultural intensification during the stand establishment phase, supporting the intermediate disturbance hypothesis.     

Establishment of two indigenous timber species in dairy pastures in Costa Rica

A silvopastoral model that combines the production of pasture herbage with valuable native timber species has potential to simultaneously address the multiple goals of reforestation, conservation of native species and enterprise intensification. The objective of this study was to design, establish and monitor early growth of a silvopastoral experiment on a dairy farm in the north Atlantic zone of Costa Rica. Two indigenous timber species, Vochysia guatemalensis and Hyeronima alchorneoides were planted with and without the tropical pasture legume, Arachis pintoi in a split plot design, (2 × 2) factorial arrangement of treatments with four replications. After the first two years, V. guatemalensis was significantly taller (3.1 m) than H. alchorneoides (2.5 m). The mean root collar diameter for V. guatemalensis was significantly larger (6.5 cm) than H. alchorneoides (4.5 cm). Two-year establishment was acceptable for the tree component (83 to 85% survival) but poor for A. pintoi (2 to 8% of the sward). The most important pest affecting the establishment of the timber species was the leaf cutter ant, Atta cephalotes. An insect larvae, Cosmopterix sp., severely damaged 39% of the V. guatemalensis trees by repeatedly attacking their apical meristems. The two-year establishment data was insufficient to accurately predict future wood volume. A hypothetical economic analysis concluded that the silvopastoral system must average at least 1.2 m³ wood volume/paddock/year (20 m³/ha/year) throughout the first ten years of growth to assure a positive economic return from timber. The experiment is planned for a ten year period, which corresponds to the estimated rotation length for harvesting the timber species. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

The effect of weed control and fertilization on survival and growth of four pine species in the Virginia Piedmont

The growth response of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.), Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana Mill.), and white pine (Pinus strobus L.) to weed control and fertilization in the Piedmont of Virginia was assessed. Four different silvicultural treatments were evaluated: (1) check (no treatment); (2) weed control; (3) fertilization; (4) weed control plus fertilization. The weed control treatment included a series of herbicide and mechanical treatments to eliminate competing hardwoods. The fertilizer treatments added N, P, K, and S. Survival and growth was measured annually through age 5. There were significant differences in survival and growth among species. Survival was greatest for loblolly pine, lower in shortleaf and Virginia pine, and lowest in white pine. Fertilization without controlling the competing hardwoods decreased survival in all planted pines due to the increased hardwood competition. Loblolly pine was tallest through the 5-year period, shortleaf and Virginia pine were shorter and white pine was shortest. Silvicultural treatments had no impact on tree height but significantly affected DBH. Weed control increased DBH while fertilization did not. When applied in combination with weed control, there was no additional increase in growth of the pines due to fertilization beyond that from weed control only. Fertilization stimulated the growth of the competing hardwoods which were significantly taller in the fertilized plots.     

Effects of shelter tubes on hardwood tree establishment in western Oregon silvopastures

Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), and honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) are warm season forage trees with potential to efficiently share site resources with cool season pasture plants in Pacific Northwest silvopastures. Establishment of hardwood trees can be difficult, however, because of feeding damage from wildlife and livestock. This study compared establishment and growth of trees planted in 88 cm tall solid plastic shelter tubes to 88 cm tall plastic mesh tubes, used to protect trees from animal damage. Three replications were established in May 1995 for each of the three tree species on a hill pasture near Corvallis, Oregon. Initial tree survival during the first summer and winter following planting was higher in shelter tubes than in mesh tubes. At the end of the third growing season, 58% of black locust and 94% of honey locust trees in shelter tubes were still alive compared to only 14% of black locust and 47% of honey locust in mesh tubes. Few honey mesquite trees survived regardless of tube type used. Average three-year total height growth for black locust was increased by 650% and basal diameter growth by 380% within shelter tubes, while honey locust height growth was increased by 300% and diameter growth was increased by 150% compared to trees in mesh tubes. However, shelter tube trees tended to be taller relative to their diameter and had difficulty standing upright if tubes were removed. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pine weevil (Hylobius abietis) damage to cuttings and seedlings of Norway spruce

Damage caused by pine weevil (Hylobius abietus L.) to planted seedlings and cuttings of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) was studied at five clearcut sites in south-eastern Sweden. The main objective was to compare the two types of stock in terms of attack frequency and mortality due to pine weevil feeding. Cuttings and seedlings with the same initial stem-base diameter (4 mm) were compared. Two sites were harvested and scarified shortly before planting, two were harvested shortly before planting, but were not scarified, and one was harvested 2 years before and scarified the autumn before planting. The total mortality 5 years after planting was highest, greater than 90%, at the new, non-scarified sites, and lowest, 23%, at the old, scarified site. More than 90% of the mortality was caused by pine weevil feeding. Attack frequency and pine weevil induced mortality were significantly higher among seedlings than among cuttings. Mortality due to pine weevil damage was 4–43% higher in seedlings than in cuttings after the fifth year. Of the cuttings and seedlings that were attacked in the first year, a significantly higher frequency of the seedlings were girdled. The higher resistance of cuttings to pine weevil damage may partly explain the more rapid growth of cuttings reported in other studies. However, the causes of their higher resistance need to be further investigated. The thicker bark and needles on the stem base of the cuttings could be important in this respect.     

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.     

Field survival of containerized red and jack pine seedlings inoculated with mycelial slurries of ectomycorrhizal fungi

Red pine and jack pine seedlings growing in styroblocks were inoculated 8 wk after sowing with mycelium/agar slurries of 3 mycorrhizal fungi (Laccaria bicolor, Scleroderma citrinum, and an unidentified basidiomycete), and one suspected mycorrhizal fungus (Cantharellula umbonata). Seedlings inoculated with L. bicolor developed mycorrhizae earlier and in greater numbers than the other inoculation treatments, with red pine out-performing jack pine in both respects. At 34 wk following sowing, seedlings were outplanted on a cleared xeric site in Baraga Co., in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Seedlings inoculated with C. umbonata failed to form mycorrhizae and were not outplanted. Inoculation treatments did not affect shoot or root weight at outplanting. Red pine inoculated with L. bicolor averaged 21% and 19% greater survival compared with control seedlings after one and two years in the field, respectively. Other inoculation treatments failed to increase seedling survival for either tree species. Jack pine demonstrated higher overall survival than did red pine for both years in all corresponding inoculation treatments.     

Effects of understorey vegetation on tree establishment and growth in a silvopastoral system in northern Greece

The interaction between understorey plants and trees in a young silvopastoral system was studied in a sub-humid Mediterranean environment with cold winters in northern Greece. The experimental design was a split-split plot with three replications and included: three understorey treatments (grass, legume and control), two tree species (Acer pseudoplatanus and Pinus sylvestris) and two spacings (2.5×2.5 m and 3.5×3.5 m). The competition between herbaceous plants and trees resulted in significant differentiation in tree growth while their spacing did not produce any significant differences. The influence of trees on herbage yield either by plant species or spacing was not significant. During the early stages of establishment, a significant positive correlation was observed between sycamore growth and soil moisture, leaf weight, leaf area and leaf number as well as nitrogen and potassium concentration in leaves. Six years after planting the height increase of the sycamore trees was largest in the control treatment (415%), lowest in the grass treatment (134%) and intermediate (192%) in the legume treatment. Much higher was the increase obtained for the diameter, 161%, 207% and 536% respectively for the grass, legume and control treatments. The Scots pine trees grew faster than sycamore over the course of the experiment. Height increased by 397%, 351% and 400% and diameter by 518%, 443% and 683% respectively for the grass, legume and control treatments. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mechanical site preparation effects on understory plant diversity in the Piedmont of the southern USA

Diversity of understory vegetation was compared among four intensities of site preparation and an adjacent 50-year-old pine-hardwood forest. The study site was a six-year-old loblolly pine (Pines taeda) plantation in the lower Piedmont of Georgia. Species richness and Shannon diversity indices were used to evaluate vine and woody (trees and shrubs) species diversity. Biomass distribution was compared among four plant categories: vines, forbs, grasses, and woody. Moderate intensity treatments (chainsaw and shear and chop) consistently ranked highest overall in diversity, with the mature pine-hardwood forest ranking lowest. Distribution of the four plant categories was not significantly affected by intensity of site preparation.Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Series No. 9-892325P.     

Influence of different forest conversion strategies on ground vegetation and tree regeneration in pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L.) stands: a case study in NE Germany

The conversion of anthropogenic into more natural, self-regenerating forests is one of the major objectives of forestry throughout Europe. In this study, we present investigations on permanent plots with different silvicultural treatment in NE German pine stands. Management of old-growth pine stands on acidic and nutrient-poor sandy sites differs in fencing, thinning, and planting of certain tree species. The investigations were carried out on the community, population, and individual level of the pine forest ecosystems. Thus, vegetation changes, size and height of tree populations, and height increment of tree individuals were observed over a time span of 6 years. Special attention was paid to short-lived tree species such as, e.g., Frangula alnus and Sorbus aucuparia, as well as to Fagus sylvatica as one of the most typical forest tree species of Central Europe. Vegetation changes are interpreted as a consequence of natural regeneration of formerly degraded forest sites, involving an increase in nutrient availability. High browsing pressure can be considered as a key factor for the inhibition of tree seedlings and growth of saplings. Some Sorbus aucuparia individuals, however, succeeded in growing out of the browsing height also in unfenced stands. Few found specimens of Fagus sylvatica proved that this species is able to establish spontaneously on these relatively dry, acidic sites under continental climate influence. Such natural regeneration processes, also including spontaneous rejuvenation of trees, can be integrated into silviculture as passive forest conversion management. An active management like thinning of stands, planting of trees, and fencing can accelerate forest conversion with regard to height growth and species number of trees.     

A comparison of needle retention on Japanese black pine and Japanese red pine

Needle retention (number of needle sets), needle density, height increment and radial increment were surveyed on seven Japanese black pines (Pinus thunbergii Parl.) and seven Japanese red pines (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.) growing on the same site. Number of needle sets on branches with respect to whorl position was estimated visually. In 1999, maximum summer needle retention was observed on the fifth and sixth whorl from the top, with values of 3.4 needle sets for the black pines and 2.4 needle sets for the red pines, respectively. The needle trace method (NTM) was used to determine needle retention and needle density along the main stems retrospectively for the years 1968–1998. The long-term mean summer needle retention along the main stem was 3.7 needle sets for the black pines and 2.2 needle sets for the red pines. In both pine species, the number of needle sets varied from year to year. However, the long-term budget between newly born and annually shed needle sets was in equilibrium. The long-term average of needle density per cm of stem shoot was 9.4 needle pairs for the black pines and 7.4 needle pairs for the red pines. The results showed clear intra-specific and inter-specific similarities in needle retention, height increment and radial increment trends. The values for number of needle sets, height increment and radial increment positively increased with favorable growing conditions, whereas the value of needle density had an opposite tendency.     

Pasture production and tree growth in a young pine plantation fertilized with inorganic fertilizers and milk sewage in northwestern Spain

The use of organic waste materials such as milk sewage as an organic fertilizer could have the dual advantages of organic-waste disposal and reduced dependence on inorganic fertilizers. The effects of fertilization with (1) conventional mineral fertilization, (2) milk sewage sludge at 40 kg N ha⁻¹ target rate and (3) no fertilization on pasture production and tree growth were examined in an experiment consisting of two pasture mixtures under a one-year-old Pinus radiata plantation with a density of 2500 trees ha⁻¹. The two pasture mixtures were: (1) Dactylis glomerata L. var. saborto (25 kg ha⁻¹) + Trifolium repens L. group Ladino (4 kg ha⁻¹) + Trifolium pratense L. var. Marino (1 kg ha⁻¹); (2) Lolium perenne L. var. Tove (25 kg ha⁻¹) + Trifolium repens L. group Ladino (4 kg ha⁻¹) + Trifolium pratense L. var. Marino (1 kg ha⁻¹). The experiment began in the spring of 1995 using a randomized block design with three replicates in Castro Riberas de Lea (Lugo, Galicia, north-western Spain). Plot size was 12 × 8 m², with a 1 m buffer strip between plots. Two-year data showed that fertilization with either material had a positive effect on pasture production, with no significant difference between the two fertilization treatments. Tree growth in the milk sewage sludge plot was significantly higher than in the control plots. Inorganic fertilization increased pasture production, but affected tree growth negatively. The results show that milk sewage sludge could be used as a fertilizer in silvo-pastoral systems. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of mechanical site preparation and fertilisation on early growth and survival of a black pine plantation in northern Greece

Pine plantations on selected sites in the extensive zone of degraded oak coppice of northern Greece are deemed necessary for increasing wood production in the area and suitable site preparation may accelerate early tree growth. Seven site preparation treatments including raking (R), with sub-soiling (RS), disc harrowing (RD), tine ploughing (RT) and their combinations (RSD), (RDT) and (RSDT) were compared for the establishment of black pine (Pinus nigra Arn) in an oak coppice site, of conglomerate parent material at Anthrakia, northern Greece. The randomised blocks trial of three replications and 110 trees per treatment, half of which were fertilised with 150 g NPK per plant, was assessed at the age of 15 years for diameter, dominant tree height and survival. There was no significant difference between the treatments in any of the traits examined, nor did the fertilisation had any effect. Only the fertiliser × treatment interaction was found significant at p<0.001 for dominant height, accounting for 37% of the observed variation in this trait. The lack of response to site preparation treatments may be attributed to the hard Bt3 clay horizon, extending beyond cultivation depth (50 cm), that prevents the roots penetration into deeper moist soil layers. The F × T interaction, where the combination of (RSDT) treatment and fertiliser was found to accelerate tree height growth in relation to the same treatment without fertiliser, indicates that thorough soil cultivation is needed for fertilisation to be effective in such sites.