Ref ID: 10188
Ref Type: Journal
Authors: Goncalves, J. L., Stape, J. L., Laclau, J. P., Gava, J. L., and Smethurst, P. J.
Pub Date: 2004
Journal Name: Forest Ecology and Management
Volume: 193
Issue: 1-2
Start Page: 45
End Page: 61
ISBN/ISSN:
Keywords: Australia/Brazil/cultivation/effect/eucalypt/Eucalyptus/Eucalyptus grandis/Eucalyptus urophylla/fertiliser/forestry/plantation/plantations/productivity/pruning/quality/silviculture/slash management/spacing/thinning/weed control/wood/wood quality/forest/potential/climate/supply/light/water/nutrients/nutrient/optimal/growth/wood value/value/design/management/rate/resource/scale/soil/residue/residue management/weed/control/irrigation/coppice/review/practice/research/plant/process/tree/high/short rotation/rotation/efficiency/demand/conservation/information/current/system/productivity prediction/prediction/improvement/models/model/Productivity model/slash retention/pest/pest management
Abstract: The productivity of most forest plantations is less than their physiological
potential as defined by the prevailing climate, because the supply or
capture of light, water and nutrients is less than optimal. However, maximum
growth does not equate to maximum wood value. The silvicultural challenge is
to design and use management regimes that achieve target growth rates and
wood quality by manipulating resource supply, capture or use. It has been
and remains possible to identify and ameliorate factors limiting growth,
sometimes on a large scale, e.g. by soil cultivation, residue management,
fertiliser, weed control, irrigation, coppice management, thinning and
pruning. This review examines some of these silvicultural practices for
eucalypt plantations.
During the past two decades, an increase in research on silvicultural
practices in relation to soil and plant processes has improved our
understanding of their effects on tree growth and wood quality, and on
non-wood values including the potential for adverse on- or off-site effects.
Eucalypt silviculture usually targets high growth rates and short
rotations. High growth rates, and to some extent low nutrient-use
efficiencies of eucalypts, lead to high nutrient demand and a high
potential for nutrient depletion if management does not facilitate nutrient
conservation. A detailed examination of nutrient management is presented.
We indicate how silvicultural information is incorporated into current
empirical- and process-based systems of productivity prediction, and
identify potential improvements to these models. Silvicultural options are
included adequately in some empirical models, and some process-based
productivity models adequately cater for pruning and thinning, but
process-based predictions of other silvicultural options, e.g. cultivation,
slash retention, fertiliser, weed control and pest management, remain in
their infancy.
Notes: Entered by Maria Cherry (09/04/2003)
Reprint: Not in File
Program: SPF Sustainable Management
Project: B2
Deliverable: B2-1.4
Confidentiality: Public
Availability: Authors
Report: Annual Report 2003/4
Type: Article
Address: jlmgonca@esalq.usp.br