Effect of post-planting applications of granulated atrazine and fertiliser on the early growth of Eucalyptus nitens

A factorial experiment was established in a plantation of Eucalyptus nitens in southern Tasmania on a site which had formerly carried native eucalypt forest. Before planting, the site had been cleared of weeds with foliar translocated and pre-emergence herbicides. The first factor of the experiment examined the effects on tree growth of no post-planting weed control, control by hand or with three levels of application of granulated atrazine, 0.9, 1.8 and 8 kg ha^–1. The second factor examined the effects of no fertiliser application or the application of nitrogen as urea at 200 kg ha^–1 N plus triple superphosphate at 120 kg ha^–1 P. Tree growth responses to treatments were examined at 11, 16, 23 and 29 months of age.Fertiliser application increased tree height and diameter growth. Application of atrazine generally reduced height and diameter growth, but this was statistically significant only at the highest rate of application. Growth reduction occurred even though atrazine reduced post-planting weed cover on the site and hence potential competition with the tree crop for site resources. Hand weeding reduced the weed crop on the site even more than atrazine, but this did not increase growth of the tree crop.Given satisfactory establishment practices which include the use of herbicides pre-planting, it was concluded that post-planting weed regeneration was not sufficiently vigorous to warrant post-planting weed control on these sites. The use of atrazine for post-planting weed control could even be deleterious to eucalypts.     

Early growth responses from weed control and planting larger stock of Pinus radiata are greater than that obtained from mechanical soil cultivation

Early growth of two grades ofbare-root Pinus radiata D.Don seedlingswere studied in response to four soilcultivation treatments and two weed controltreatments.Soil cultivation treatments included (i) pitsmade by hand, (ii) pits made with an auger,(iii) ripping alone, and (iv) ripping plusdisking. Weed treatments included (i) manualrelease 1 year after planting or (ii) totalweed control for 1 year involving the use ofherbicides and additional hoeing. Bare-rootseedlings were separated into either medium(4.1-mm average root-collar diameter; height25–31 cm) or small (2.8-mm average root-collardiameter; height 14–20 cm) size classes.Growth on this site was excellent and 7 yearsafter treatment, trees in the least expensivetreatment averaged 12.8 m in height. Use ofmedium seedlings and extra weed controlincreased merchantable volume by20 m³ ha^{minus 1} and 19 m³ ha^{minus 1},respectively. When combined, the increase was39 m³ ha^{minus 1}. However, none of the soilcultivation treatments caused a significantincrease in merchantable volume. Disking onthis site proved to be of no benefit. Aboundary-line analysis was used to examine themarginal returns from investing in intensivesilviculture.     

Direct seeding of Quercus robur L. for reforestation: The influence of mechanical site preparation and sowing date on early growth of seedlings

Compared with conventional planting, direct seeding of Quercus spp. is a method that can reduce the costs of reforestation considerably. However, interference from natural vegetation and predation on acorns contribute to regeneration failures. Mechanical site preparation has the potential to reduce both these problems. To study the influence of sowing date and of different mechanical site preparation treatments on early seedling growth, an experiment was carried out in storm-felled areas, formerly Norway spruce forests, in southern Sweden from May 2006 to September 2008. Five treatments were applied and acorns were planted in May and July 2006. The treatments were: disc trenching, patch scarification, topsoil removal, mounding and an undisturbed control. A delay of less than two months in seeding resulted in the equivalent of one year's growth reduction with respect to oak seedling's height and biomass. This could be explained by delayed emergence of seedlings, and by the dry conditions during summer seeding. The seedlings only exhibited a weak positive biomass growth response following disc trenching, patch scarification and top soil removal. In the latter case this might be explained by increased soil compaction and extensive removal of the humus layer. Site preparation by mounding resulted in good vegetation control, an increased biomass growth response and deeper seedling roots. In this treatment, we found high relative light levels near seedlings, reduced soil moisture and dry bulk density of the soil and higher soil temperatures. One or more of these environmental factors could have influenced the growth response. Whether this increased early growth rate persists throughout young stand development is, however, uncertain.