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Do harrowing and fertilisation at middle rotation improve tree growth and site quality in Eucalyptus globulus Labill. plantations in Mediterranean conditions?

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Abstract

Effects of harrowing and fertilisation on tree growth, understory vegetation, forest floor litter and soil properties were studied in a field experiment installed in a 5-year-old first rotation eucalypt plantation. The treatments were harrowing (H), fertilisation (F), harrowing and fertilisation (HF) and a control without any treatments (C), with four replicates. Tree growth, root mass, tree nutrition status, understory vegetation, mass of forest floor litter and soil physical and chemical properties were monitored till the end of the rotation (stand was 14-year old). Effects of treatments on tree growth, root mass and timber production were not significant. Root nutrient concentration differed between treatments only few months after the beginning of the experiment, while differences regarding specific root length and area were observed during the first year. Harrowing (H and HF) led to significantly smaller biomass of understory vegetation (<13.4 g m−2) than other treatments (33−61 g m−2) during the first 3 years, but at the end of the experiment differences were less important. Forest floor litter mass after 3 years and at the end of the experiment were similar among treatments. Soil bulk density significantly decreased by harrowing (H and HF treatments), but 16 months after treatments were similar. Although soil chemical properties were not significantly affected by treatments, a decrease in base cations occurred during the rotation period. Fertiliser application is a questionable practice under the economic point of view, whereas harrowing can reduce the fuel load only during a short period, without negative effects on productivity and soil quality.

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Acknowledgments

The study was developed within the projects PRAXIS XXI 3/3.2/FLOR/2123/95) (FCT, Portugal), PAMAF-4110.4029.0350/95, and AGRO 19 (Ministry of Agriculture, Portugal). The Störa Enso (CELBI) Pulp Company is acknowledged for providing the experimental site and for assistance in field work. Staff of Laboratory of Departamento de Ciências do Ambiente is acknowledged for soil analysis. Paulo Marques and Luís Hilário are acknowledged for assistance on measurements and samplings, and Mário Abrantes and André Fabião for helping in understory vegetation samplings.

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  1. Centro de Estudos Florestais, Instituto Superior de Agronomia – Univ. Técnica de Lisboa, 1349-017, Lisboa, Portugal

    Manuel Madeira, António Fabião & Marta Carneiro

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  1. Manuel Madeira
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  2. António Fabião
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  3. Marta Carneiro
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Correspondence to Manuel Madeira.

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Communicated by A. Merino.

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Madeira, M., Fabião, A. & Carneiro, M. Do harrowing and fertilisation at middle rotation improve tree growth and site quality in Eucalyptus globulus Labill. plantations in Mediterranean conditions?. Eur J Forest Res 131, 583–596 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-011-0533-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-011-0533-1

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