Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/9007
Title: Productivity of Three Young Mixed-Species Plantations Containing N₂-Fixing 'Acacia' and Non-N₂-Fixing 'Eucalyptus' and 'Pinus' Trees in Southeastern Australia
Contributor(s): Forrester, David I (author); Bauhus, Jurgen (author); Cowie, Annette  (author); Mitchell, Peter A (author); Brockwell, John (author)
Publication Date: 2007
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/9007
Abstract: Mixed species plantations have the potential to exceed the biomass production of monocultures. This study examined the productivity of three mixed species plantations in southeastern Australia. Two of these trials contained a 'Eucalyptus' sp. ('E. saligna' Smith or 'E. nitens' [Deane & Maiden] Maiden) planted with 'Acacia mearnsii' De Wild., and the other contained 'Pinus radiata' D. Don with 'A. mearnsii', 'A. decurrens' Willd., 'E. benthamii' Maiden & Cambage, or 'E. smithii' R. Baker. Each trial contained both monocultures and mixtures, and was replicated three or four times. Tree diameters or heights were smaller in mixture than monocultures for some species (P. radiata diameters of 5.9 cm and 7.0 cm in 2:1 mixtures with 'A. mearnsii' and monocultures, respectively) but tended to increase (not significantly) for other species ('E. nitens' diameters of 10.6 cm and 8.5 cm and 'A. mearnsii' diameters of 9.2 cm and 8.8 cm in 1:1 mixtures and monocultures, respectively). As a result, mixtures were intermediate in aboveground biomass production between monocultures of the mixed species in each trial, or they were not significantly different from the monocultures. Competition for resources other than nitrogen (N), such as light, soil moisture, or other nutrients, appeared to balance any positive effects that might have occurred, such as through increased N availability. For example, foliar N concentrations of 'E. saligna' were higher in mixture (23.1 mg g⁻¹) than monoculture (17.7 mg g⁻¹); however, this did not result in greater aboveground tree biomass. The range of different growth responses from mixing different species in this study and in other studies shows that a fundamental understanding of the underlying processes is required to enable a greater predictive capacity of the circumstances under which mixtures can be successful.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Forest Science, 53(3), p. 426-434
Publisher: Society of American Foresters
Place of Publication: United States of America
ISSN: 1938-3738
0015-749X
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 070502 Forestry Biomass and Bioproducts
050102 Ecosystem Function
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 820104 Native Forests
820105 Softwood Plantations
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Publisher/associated links: http://saf.publisher.ingentaconnect.com/content/saf/fs/2007/00000053/00000003/art00005
Appears in Collections:Journal Article

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