Forrester, David I; Bauhus, Jurgen; Cowie, Annette

Author(s)

Forrester, David I

Bauhus, Jurgen

Cowie, Annette

Publication Date

2005

Abstract

A doubling of aboveground biomass production has been observed in mixtures of 'Eucalyptus globulus' Labill. and 'Acacia mearnsii' de Wildeman when compared with monocultures after 11 years of growth. This study examined to what extent increased nitrogen (N) availability and accelerated rates of nutrient cycling may contribute to increased growth in mixtures. Monocultures of 'E. globulus' (E) and 'A. mearnsii' (A) and mixtures of these species were planted in a species replacement series: 100% E, 75% E + 25% A, 50% E + 50% A, 25% E + 75% A, and 100% A. Litterfall mass increased with aboveground biomass production and was highest in 50:50 mixtures and lowest in monocultures. Owing to higher N concentrations of 'A. mearnsii' litter, N contents of annual litterfall were at least twice as high in stands containing A. mearnsii (32-49 kg·ha¹·year¹) as in 'E. globulus' monocultures (14 kg·ha¹·year¹). Stands with 'A. mearnsii' also cycled higher quantities of phosphorus (P) in annual litterfall than 'E. globulus' monocultures. This study demonstrated that mixing 'A. mearnsii' with 'E. globulus' increased the quantity and rates of N and P cycled through aboveground litterfall when compared with 'E. globulus' monocultures. Thus, mixed-species plantations appear to be a useful silvicultural system to improve nutrition of eucalypts without fertilization.

Citation

Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 35(12), p. 2942-2950

ISSN

1208-6037

0045-5067

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/9066

Publisher

National Research Council Canada

Title

Nutrient cycling in a mixed-species plantation of 'Eucalyptus globulus' and 'Acacia mearnsii'

Type of document

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	Forrester, David I Bauhus, Jurgen Cowie, Annette
Publication Date	2005
Abstract	A doubling of aboveground biomass production has been observed in mixtures of 'Eucalyptus globulus' Labill. and 'Acacia mearnsii' de Wildeman when compared with monocultures after 11 years of growth. This study examined to what extent increased nitrogen (N) availability and accelerated rates of nutrient cycling may contribute to increased growth in mixtures. Monocultures of 'E. globulus' (E) and 'A. mearnsii' (A) and mixtures of these species were planted in a species replacement series: 100% E, 75% E + 25% A, 50% E + 50% A, 25% E + 75% A, and 100% A. Litterfall mass increased with aboveground biomass production and was highest in 50:50 mixtures and lowest in monocultures. Owing to higher N concentrations of 'A. mearnsii' litter, N contents of annual litterfall were at least twice as high in stands containing A. mearnsii (32-49 kg·ha¹·year¹) as in 'E. globulus' monocultures (14 kg·ha¹·year¹). Stands with 'A. mearnsii' also cycled higher quantities of phosphorus (P) in annual litterfall than 'E. globulus' monocultures. This study demonstrated that mixing 'A. mearnsii' with 'E. globulus' increased the quantity and rates of N and P cycled through aboveground litterfall when compared with 'E. globulus' monocultures. Thus, mixed-species plantations appear to be a useful silvicultural system to improve nutrition of eucalypts without fertilization.
Citation	Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 35(12), p. 2942-2950
ISSN	1208-6037 0045-5067
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/9066
Publisher	National Research Council Canada
Title	Nutrient cycling in a mixed-species plantation of 'Eucalyptus globulus' and 'Acacia mearnsii'
Type of document	Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication

Nutrient cycling in a mixed-species plantation of 'Eucalyptus globulus' and 'Acacia mearnsii'

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