Factors influencing production efficiency of intensively managed loblolly pine plantations in a 1- to 4-year-old chronosequence [An article from: Forest Ecology and Management]
Book Details
PublisherElsevier
ISBN / ASINB000RR69K6
ISBN-13978B000RR69K5
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This digital document is a journal article from Forest Ecology and Management, published by Elsevier in . The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Description:
Changes in biomass, nutrient accumulation and production efficiency (PE-total biomass increment per unit leaf area) were investigated in intensively managed plantations of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) using an age sequence of replicated 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old stands (n=13). All stands, located on sandy Spodosols in the Coastal Plain of southern Georgia, were managed using a similar prescription that included a common genetic source, fertilization (years 1 and 3) and understory competition control. Total biomass accumulation (above- and below-ground) ranged from about 13Mgha^-^1 at age 2 years to 49.7Mgha^-^1 at age 4 years. Dry matter distributions averaged 30%, 34%, 18%, 6%, 15%, 12% and 3% for foliage, stemwood, branches, bark, taproots, coarse roots and fine roots, respectively, at age 4 years. Intensive management and rapid growth rates markedly increased soil nutrient demands, being about 15-fold higher than that documented in extensively managed stands of comparable age. Nutrient accumulations in tree biomass at age 4 years averaged 195, 22, 86, 72 and 28kgha^-^1 for N, P, K, Ca and Mg, respectively. Large declines (~50%) in PE (2.6Mgha^-^1year^-^1/unit versus 1.3Mgha^-^1year^-^1/unit LAI) were apparent among all sites between the second and third years, with a noted recovery occurring at age 4 years. Changes in branch and taproot PE were most apparent, whereas stemwood PE did not change appreciably between ages 2 and 3 years. Correlation analyses suggested that larger declines in PE were associated with decreasing foliar nutrient levels (dilution), although changes in growth dynamics (carbon allocation) associated with advancing stand development may have also contributed. Collectively, these results suggest that intensive management may induce multiple nutrient limitations on sandy Spodosols, and that a better understanding of nutrient requirements, including macro- and micronutrient supply, will be necessary to maintain and enhance soil quality and long-term site productivity on these soils.
Description:
Changes in biomass, nutrient accumulation and production efficiency (PE-total biomass increment per unit leaf area) were investigated in intensively managed plantations of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) using an age sequence of replicated 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old stands (n=13). All stands, located on sandy Spodosols in the Coastal Plain of southern Georgia, were managed using a similar prescription that included a common genetic source, fertilization (years 1 and 3) and understory competition control. Total biomass accumulation (above- and below-ground) ranged from about 13Mgha^-^1 at age 2 years to 49.7Mgha^-^1 at age 4 years. Dry matter distributions averaged 30%, 34%, 18%, 6%, 15%, 12% and 3% for foliage, stemwood, branches, bark, taproots, coarse roots and fine roots, respectively, at age 4 years. Intensive management and rapid growth rates markedly increased soil nutrient demands, being about 15-fold higher than that documented in extensively managed stands of comparable age. Nutrient accumulations in tree biomass at age 4 years averaged 195, 22, 86, 72 and 28kgha^-^1 for N, P, K, Ca and Mg, respectively. Large declines (~50%) in PE (2.6Mgha^-^1year^-^1/unit versus 1.3Mgha^-^1year^-^1/unit LAI) were apparent among all sites between the second and third years, with a noted recovery occurring at age 4 years. Changes in branch and taproot PE were most apparent, whereas stemwood PE did not change appreciably between ages 2 and 3 years. Correlation analyses suggested that larger declines in PE were associated with decreasing foliar nutrient levels (dilution), although changes in growth dynamics (carbon allocation) associated with advancing stand development may have also contributed. Collectively, these results suggest that intensive management may induce multiple nutrient limitations on sandy Spodosols, and that a better understanding of nutrient requirements, including macro- and micronutrient supply, will be necessary to maintain and enhance soil quality and long-term site productivity on these soils.
