Loblolly Pine Trees

There are a number of commercial tree species suitable for biofuels development in North Carolina, including softwood trees (gymnosperms) and hardwood trees (angiosperms), although some of the biofuels conversion processes are species-dependent. One of the most important biofuels-ready tree species is the Loblolly Pine, a softwood tree.

The Loblolly Pine’s natural range covers almost all of the Piedmont and Coastal Plains of North Carolina. In addition to occurring naturally, the Loblolly is also artificially regenerated with an estimated 3.3 million acres of planted stands in North Carolina. The Loblolly is the single most important species in the pulp/paper industry and also the largest species cut for dimensional lumber.

Large increases in the productivity of the Loblolly Pine have been made due to natural breeding, and the clonal Loblolly is currently being established. Due to its ease in establishing planted stands, the Loblolly has been used in the establishment of forest stands on marginal agricultural lands.

Currently, the Biofuels Center of North Carolina is testing different lines of the Loblolly on North Carolina's Biofuels Campus in Oxford. These tests include various densities of stands grown on short rotations for maximized volume per acre. Also, NC State University's College of Natural Resources is evaluating the potential of the Loblolly Pine for biochemical conversion.

There are other pine species that can be used for biofuels production, including the Shortleaf, Virginia, Longleaf, and Eastern White pines.