Raising and managing radiata pine cuttings for production forests

Summary

750 000 Pinus radiata stem cuttings were set out in Tasman's Forest Nursery in 1984. Methods including selection, collection and production rates are described. Nursery production of these rooted stem cuttings is shown to be five times more costly than that of one-year-old seedlings. Subsequent establishment and silvicultural operations are tabulated which indicate that at age 7 years, discounted costs per hectare are $200 in favour of cuttings. A 12-year-old stand of trees of cuttings origin (taken from 8-year-old trees of unimproved seed origin) is described, including its wood characteristics. Density and heartwood at 12 years of age are 7% and 4% less respectively than for comparable seedlings. Tree form, especially branch index and butt sweep are in favour of the cuttings. Growth of basal area and height at age 14 years are very similar to that projected for seedlings grown at similar stockings. It is our opinion that plantations of cuttings originating from genetically superior ortets will yield greater gains than those described for cuttings taken from unimproved trees.