Pinus halepensis Mill.: an alternative for reforesting marginal fields in the Sierra Madre Oriental of northeastern México

Abstract

The mediterranean Pinus species have been considered for reforesting marginal fields in some tropical and subtropical countries. This paper focuses on testing five provenances of the species P. halepensis Mill. and P. brutia Ten. as well as one provenance of the species P. eldarica Medw. and the native species P. pseudostrobus Lindl. Plant survival, total height and basal diameter were measured annually on the species for eight years. In 1986, the provenances were plantes in an experimental site in the Sierra Madre Oriental in a randomized block design. The results showed that plant survival was higher in the mediterranean species than in the native species (P>t≤0,001). P. halepensis showed the greatest total height (P>F≤0,001) at all times. Since 1988, P. halepensis showed the highest growth in basal diameter and together with P. pseudostrobus showed a higher basal diameter after 1990 (P>F≤0,001). P. halepensis provenances did not show statistical differences in plant survival, total height (P>F≤0,001). However, the best provenance of P. brutia did not do better in any of the measured parameters than any of provenances of P. halepensis. Reforesting marginal sites in the Sierra Madre Oriental must consider provenances of the species P. halepensis instead of any other of the species studied.