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New Publication Highlights

Pinus taeda carryover phosphorus availability on the lower Atlantic Coastal Plain
 (Hackman et al.)

  • • High P Fertilization rates carry over into the next rotation on Alfisols.

    • Spodosols cycle fertilizer P more rapidly than Alfisols.

    • horizon Phosphorus pools are strongly related to long-term forest productivity.

    • Resin-P was responsive to mineral soil P but not related to tree productivity.

  • Phosphorus (P) fertilizer that remains in the soil after harvest and into the subsequent rotation is referred to as carryover P. Carryover P is not well understood in loblolly pine (P. taeda) silviculture, especially on highly P responsive sites, where this effect could potentially have the greatest benefit to land managers. Our study aims to determine the duration of the P carryover effect and the magnitude of response to soil P as it relates to previously applied P fertilizer rates from the previous rotation. To address this knowledge gap, we studied two highly weathered sites on the lower Atlantic coastal plain: a somewhat poorly drained Spodosol and a poorly drained Alfisol over three years from pre- to post-harvest. Two years post planting, carryover fertilizer treatments resulted in a 13% increase in height for the 121 kg P ha-1, a 15% for the 81 kg P ha-1, and a 17% increase for the fertilized 40 + 45 kg P ha-1 treatments compared to the control for the Alfisol. Spodosols appeared to respond to any additional fertilization compared to the control group regardless of rate. Importantly, we found that O horizon mass and P content from the first rotation, approximately seven years before harvest, exhibited a positive linear relationship with one-year-old heights in the Spodosol and one- and two-year-old heights in the Alfisol. These findings shed light on the importance of the O horizon characteristics and its potential as an indicator for tree growth in subsequent rotations.

  • Dr. Jacob Hackman

    jjhackma@ncsu.edu

  • Hackman, J., Cook, R.L, Strahm, B., Carter, D., Woodley, A., Garcia, K., Albaugh, T., Rubilar, R., Campoe, O., 2024b. Pinus taeda carryover phosphorus availability on the lower Atlantic Coastal Plain. Forest Ecology and Management 555, 121701.

Wood basic density assessment of Eucalyptus genotypes growing under contrasting water availability conditions
 (Elissetche et al.)

  • Limited research exists on wood properties in E. nitens × E. globulus hybrid genotypes grown in water-limited conditions generated by the climate change influence in Mediterranean areas. The EUCAHYDRO project aimed to assess environmental stress impacts on eucalyptus genotypes, including responses to reduced water availability, and to evaluate wood density and resistance using the non-destructive drill resistance technique. This study focused on 10-year-old E. nitens × E. globulus hybrids and Eucalyptus badjensis Beuzev. & Welch, revealing that low irrigation led to a 13% (p < 0.05) decrease in diameter and a 6.5% (p > 0.05) increase in wood density for the hybrids. On the contrary, E. badjensis demonstrated a noteworthy 22% increase in wood density (p < 0.05), while showing a corresponding 0.6% growth increase (p > 0.05), as measured by the diameter at breast height. Drill resistance measurement results indicated that E. nitens × E. globulus’ amplitude ranged from 20.1% to 26.6%, while E. badjensis’ ranged from 20.8% to 27.2%. The study revealed a high correlation between resistance amplitude and wood density, with coefficients of 0.97 observed for E. nitens × E. globulus and 0.84 for E. badjensis (p < 0.05). These findings fall within the range reported in similar studies involving Eucalyptus spp. The primary focus of the research was to assess the growth potential and wood quality of novel Eucalyptus spp. under conditions of water limitation. The study also explored the utility of drill resistance as a predictive measure for evaluating wood density as an indicator of wood quality.

  • Juan Pedro Elissetche

    jelisset@udec.cl

  • Elissetche, J.P.; Alzamora, R.; Espinoza, Y.; Emhart, V.; Pincheira, M.; Medina, A.; Rubilar, R. 2024. Wood Basic Density Assessment of Eucalyptus Genotypes Growing under Contrasting Water Availability Conditions. Forests 15(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010185

2023 Research Summaries are now available for FPC Members
(FPC Team Collaborative Effort)

  • New Research Summaries are published each spring to update FPC members on research progress from the previous year. Each volume contains numerous two-page long reports summarizing the findings from various regionwide trials as well as findings from special studies.

  • FPC Members have exclusive access to the Research Summaries. They are available here (Member Dashboard \\ Publications \\ FPC Research Summaries).

    • Mid-Rotation Effects of Site Preparation, Weed Control, and Fertilization on Growth of Pinus taeda in Brazil (p.23)

    • Mid-Rotation Effects of Site Preparation, Weed Control, and Fertilization on Growth of Pinus maximinoi in Brazil (p.25)

    • Radiata Pine Rotation Age Responses to Site Preparation, Weed Control and Fertilization (p.27)

    • Evaluating site preparation intensity and weed control impacts on early and long-term growth in Radiata pine forest (p.31)

    • Pinus tecunumanii and maximinoi Site Preparation x Weed Control & Fertilization (p.35)

    • Using Spectral Vegetation Indices to Estimate Mid-term Responses to Soil Preparation Intensity and Weed Control timing for Pinus radiata (p.37)

    • Loblolly pine response to thinning & fertilization in Argentina (p.77)

    • Effects of Silviculture and Spacing on Pinus taeda Varieties over 10 years in Brazil (p.95)

    • Impact of Intensity and Duration of Competing Vegetation Control on Pine Productivity in Brazil (p.145)

    • Pinus tecunumanii and Pinus maximinoi response to weed control intensity & duration (p.147)

    • Using Microdialysis to Assess Soil Diffusive P and Translocated Sap Flow P Concentrations in Southern Pinus taeda Plantations (p.153)

    • Pinus taeda Carryover Phosphorus Availability in the Lower Atlantic Coastal Plain (p.155)

    • Fungal Biomass and Ectomycorrhizal Community Assessment of Phosphorus-Responsive Pinus taeda Plantations (p.157)

    • Influence of Site Characteristics and Phosphorus Fertilization on Root-Associated Fungal Communities in Pinus taeda (p.159)

    • Loblolly Pine Plantation Design to Optimize Value & Productivity of Site Specific Species/Genotypes (p.163)

    • Radiata pine plantation design to optimize value & productivity of site specific species/genotypes on sandy soils (p.165)

    • Radiata pine plantation design to optimize value & productivity of site specific species/genotypes on metamorphic soils (p.167)

    • Biomass partitioning and growth in the US and BR (p.284)

    • High and low solubility Calcium potential to correct stem deformation in fast growing Pinus radiata (p.298)

    • Soil and site productivity effects on above and belowground radiata pine carbon pools at harvesting age (p.302)

    • Growth Trends of Loblolly Pine Ages One to Five in Relation to Soil Type and Management Intensity (p.310)

    • Synergistic Effect of Two Ectomycorrhizal Fungi on Phosphorus Uptake by Pinus taeda Seedlings (p.312)

    • Harvesting Age Pinus radiata Carbon Sequestration Potential in Granitic and Metamorphic Soils of South-Central Chile (p.314)

    • A Decision Support Tool for Optimizing Forest Yield and Carbon in Private Loblolly Pine Plantations (p.316)

    • Dynamic Greenhouse Gas Accounting to Understand Climate Effects of Silvicultural Management in Loblolly Plantations (p.318)

    • Tropical Eucalyptus Sustainability Study (p.7)

    • Eucalyptus grandis Site Preparation x Weed Control & Fertilization (p.19)

    • Effect of water availability on growth efficiency in Eucalyptus genotypes (p.157)

    • Fertilizer Survey Summary of Operational Forest Fertilization for Forest Productivity Cooperative Members- 2022 Update (p.7)

    • Early stand measurements using a drone (p.153)

    • Nature vs. Nurture: Drivers of Site Productivity for Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.) Forests in the Southeastern US (p.155)

    • Modeling Wood Product Carbon Flows in Southern US Pine Plantations: Implications for Carbon Storage (p.139)

    • Airborne laser scanning derived estimates of individual tree stem diameter as inputs in a conventional growth and yield model (p.157)

    • Demonstrating the transferability of airborne laser scanning derived models for Pinus taeda L. stem size estimation to different locations and acquisition specifications (p.159)