A New Approach for Modeling Volume Response from Mid-Rotation Fertilization of Pinus taeda L. Plantations

Autor: Henrique F. Scolforo, Cristian Montes, Rachel L. Cook, Howard Lee Allen, Timothy J. Albaugh, Rafael Rubilar, Otavio Campoe
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: Forests, Vol 11, Iss 6, p 646 (2020)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 11060646
1999-4907
DOI: 10.3390/f11060646
Popis: Mid-rotation fertilization presents an opportunity to increase the economic return of plantation forests in the southeastern United States (SEUS). For this reason, the Forest Productivity Cooperative established a series of mid-rotation fertilization trials in Pinus taeda L. plantations across the SEUS between 1984 and 1987. These trials identified site-specific responses to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers, resulting in increased stand production for 6–10 years after fertilization. There are successful volume response models that allow users to quantify the gain in stand productivity resulting from fertilization. However, all the current models depend on empirical relationships that are not bounded by biological response, meaning that greater fertilizer additions continue to create more volume gains, regardless of physiological limits. To address this shortcoming, we developed a bounded response model that evaluates relative volume response gain to fertilizer addition. Site index and relative spacing are included as model parameters to help provide realistic estimates. The model is useful for evaluating productivity gain in Pinus taeda stands that are fertilized with N and P in mid-rotation.
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