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Forest Ecosystems 2017, 4(2): 3 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-017-0090-2
Research | Open Access | Issue | Published: 21 March 2017

Optimal nitrogen fertilization of boreal conifer forest

Show Author's Information Timo Pukkala( )
University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 11180101 Joensuu, Finland
Keywords:
Optimal management, Forest fertilization, Response model
Cite this article:
Pukkala T. Optimal nitrogen fertilization of boreal conifer forest. Forest Ecosystems, 2017, 4(2): 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-017-0090-2
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Abstract Full text About this article
Background

Forest fertilization offers a means to increase the production of renewable resources. Nitrogen is the most common fertilizer in boreal upland forests. There is plenty of research on the effect of nitrogen fertilization on volume growth, but less research on the optimal timing of fertilization and optimal management of fertilized stands.

Methods

This study used simulation and optimization to analyze the profitability of fertilization, optimal management of fertilized stands and the effects of fertilization on cash flows and timber yields. The management of 100 stands representing the most common growing sites of Scots pine and Norway spruce was optimized.

Results

Fertilization improved profitability in most of the analyzed stands. Profitability improved most in spruce stands growing on mesic site. Improving stem quality increased the economic benefit of fertilization. The timber yields of medium-aged conifer stands can be increased by almost 1 m3ha-1a-1 (15%) in sub-xeric pine and mesic spruce sites and about 0.5 m3ha-1a-1 (5%) in mesic pine and herb-rich spruce sites when the recommended nitrogen dose (150 kg ha-1) is applied once in 30 years.

Conclusions

Nitrogen fertilization of boreal conifer forest should be used mainly in spruce-dominated stands growing on medium sites. The gains are the highest in stands where the mean tree diameter is 16-20 cm and stand basal area is 14-20 m2ha-1.


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Abstract
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About this article

Optimal nitrogen fertilization of boreal conifer forest

Show Author's information Timo Pukkala( )
University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 11180101 Joensuu, Finland

Abstract

Background

Forest fertilization offers a means to increase the production of renewable resources. Nitrogen is the most common fertilizer in boreal upland forests. There is plenty of research on the effect of nitrogen fertilization on volume growth, but less research on the optimal timing of fertilization and optimal management of fertilized stands.

Methods

This study used simulation and optimization to analyze the profitability of fertilization, optimal management of fertilized stands and the effects of fertilization on cash flows and timber yields. The management of 100 stands representing the most common growing sites of Scots pine and Norway spruce was optimized.

Results

Fertilization improved profitability in most of the analyzed stands. Profitability improved most in spruce stands growing on mesic site. Improving stem quality increased the economic benefit of fertilization. The timber yields of medium-aged conifer stands can be increased by almost 1 m3ha-1a-1 (15%) in sub-xeric pine and mesic spruce sites and about 0.5 m3ha-1a-1 (5%) in mesic pine and herb-rich spruce sites when the recommended nitrogen dose (150 kg ha-1) is applied once in 30 years.

Conclusions

Nitrogen fertilization of boreal conifer forest should be used mainly in spruce-dominated stands growing on medium sites. The gains are the highest in stands where the mean tree diameter is 16-20 cm and stand basal area is 14-20 m2ha-1.

Keywords: Optimal management, Forest fertilization, Response model

References(31)

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Publication history
Copyright
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Publication history

Received: 12 December 2016
Accepted: 14 March 2017
Published: 21 March 2017
Issue date: June 2017

Copyright

© The Author(s) 2017.

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Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

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