Response of aboveground biomass increment, growth efficiency, and foliar nutrients to thinning, fertilization, and pruning in young Douglas-fir plantations in the central Oregon Cascades

• Published in: Canadian journal of forest research Vol. 22; no. 9; pp. 1278 - 1289
• Main Authors: Velazquez-Martinez, A, Perry, D.A, Bell, T.E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.09.1992
• Subjects: biomass production; calcium; chemical constituents of plants; fertilizers; foliar nutrition; forest plantations; growth; increment; leaf area; magnesium; nitrogen; nutrient content; phosphorus; potassium; pruning; Pseudotsuga menziesii; thinning; Oregon
• ISSN: 0045-5067; 1208-6037
• DOI: 10.1139/x92-170

The effect of thinning and cultural practices (multinutrient fertilization, pruning) on total aboveground biomass increment and growth efficiency was studied over three consecutive 2-year periods (1981-1987) in young Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) plantations. Net aboveground biomass increment over the 6-year period averaged 14.5, 7.8, and 5.5 Mg . ha-1 . year-1 for the high-, medium-, and low-density plots, respectively. Growth efficiency, after dropping sharply between leaf area indexes of 1 and 6 m2/m2, remained relatively constant up to a leaf area index of 17, the highest measured. Consequently, aboveground biomass increment continued to increase at leaf area indexes well above that at which the Beer-Lambert law predicts maximum light should be absorbed. Foliage analyses indicate that thinning improved nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium nutrition and increased the translocation of potassium from 1-year-old foliage to support new growth. However, fertilization increased foliar nitrogen and phosphorus contents only when coupled with pruning, suggesting that trees favor total leaf area over individual needle nutrition. Indications of potassium and magnesium limitations in this study are supported by other recent studies in Douglas-fir. Further work on the role of multinutrient deficiencies in this species is warranted.