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Forest floor accumulation, nutrition and productivity of Pinus patula in the Usutu Forest, Swaziland

  • Nutrient, Growth and Allocation
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Abstract

Forest floor mass was determined at 22 sites under 11- to 15-year-old 2R and 3R P. patula that had been reestablished without prior burning of harvesting slash. Forest floor mass increased with site elevation (r=0.593) or with decreasing topsoil exchangeable Ca in particular (r=0.699). The forest floor was found to be greater than reported values for either 1R stands or 2R stands re-established following slash burning at similar age and elevations in the forest. Responses to N fertilizer applied at age 10–12 years, at 9 sites, was closely correlated with forest floor mass (r=0.911). The data suggests that continued accumulation of forest floor under successive rotations in the Usutu Forest, particularly at higher elevations, results in N deficiencies that limit growth in 2R stands. This hypothesis is supported by an analysis of data from sample plots monitoring relative 1R and 2R growth in the forest.

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  1. Usutu Pulp Company, Private bag, Mbabane, Swaziland

    A. R. Morris

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Morris, A.R. Forest floor accumulation, nutrition and productivity of Pinus patula in the Usutu Forest, Swaziland. Plant Soil 168, 271–278 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00029338

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