Ref ID: 10674
Ref Type: Conference Proceeding
Authors: Smethurst, P. J.
Date: 2004
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Conference Date: May 2004, Ballarat, Victoria
Conference Title: Australian Forest Growers Conference, Ballarat, 2004
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Keywords: affected/branch/conference/control/cultivation/deformity/drought/early/effect/environment/eucalypt/ex-pasture/fertiliser/fertilizer/forest/forest growers/forest health/grower/growth/growth model/guide/health/history/index/leaf/leaf area index/Leaves/management/model/models/N/new/nitrogen/P/pine/pine plantation/Pinus radiata/plantation/plantations/planting/potassium/prediction/product/production/pruning/quality/research/risk/rotation/selection/site/site selection/sites/soil/solid/Southern Australia/stem/temperate/temperate eucalypts/thinning/value/weed/weed control/wood/wood products/wood quality/yield
Abstract: Research at the CRC and elsewhere since 1991 has led to the following applications for planted eucalypts and pines in temperate environments. Growth predictions using mechanistic models are useful in a range of conditions, and they aid site selection. The models are now providing managers with the opportunity to assess the risk to yield from such factors as drought and forest health. By linking management, site and wood quality, they are also providing the opportunity for optimising management for particular products. Cultivation is generally needed, but deep ripping (below 40 cm) is rarely warranted. Strip weed control is necessary for the first year, but increased growth may result from follow-up total weed control. Fertilizer history, soil analyses, and leaf area index assessments can guide the need for fertilization, but foliar analyses are not very useful for macro-nutrients. Many ex-pasture sites don’t require N and P fertilization at planting if good weed control is achieved, and early over-fertilization can cause stem deformities. At-planting P fertilization has a rotation-length effect, but growth at low-N sites will be promoted by N fertilization later in the rotation, which will be profitable on many sites. Fertilization with K will be needed on some sites with a long history of agricultural production and minimal K inputs. As long as large branches and stem distortions are avoided, wood quality is rarely adversely affected by fertilization. Guidelines for pruning and thinning are now available that can increase value if there are markets for solid wood products
Notes: Entered by Maria Ottenschlaeger (23/02/2004)
Address: Philip.Smethurst@csiro.au
Reprint: Not in File
Program: SPF Sustainable Management
Project: B1
Deliverable: B1-1.9
Confidentiality: Confidential to All Partners until Published
Availability: Authors
Report: Annual Report 2003/4
Type of Work: Paper