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Effects of Fertilization on the Vegetation Dynamics of Yougn Loblolly Pine Plantations

Informally Refereed

Abstract

We examined growth of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and non-pine vegetation in three 4- to 6-year-old plantations in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana that were fertilized with varying rates of N and P. Two years after treatment, pine d.b.h. growth had generally increased with fertilization rate, with significant differences in Arkansas and Mississippi. Pine height growth was more variable with no significant differences by treatment. Significant differences in leaf area index were observed in Mississippi and Louisiana. At two sites, non-pine woody biomass was significantly greater at higher fertilization rates. However, there were no significant differences in total biomass of non-pine vegetation at any of the study areas. The limited differences between treatments may be due to drought, an ice storm, the short-term nature of our study, an insufficient number of biomass plots, and/or crown closure at one of the study sites.

Parent Publication

Citation

McKnight, Ryan; Heitzman, Eric. 2004. Effects of Fertilization on the Vegetation Dynamics of Yougn Loblolly Pine Plantations. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–71. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pp. 403-406
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/6727