Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Biomass and nutrient allocation to aboveground components in fertilized Eucalyptus saligna and E. urograndis plantations

  • Published:
New Forests Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate biomass allocation and nutrient pools in aboveground biomass components in 18-month-old plantations of Eucalyptus saligna and E. urophylla × E. grandis (i.e. E. urograndis) in Brazil. The plantations were established by pulp companies in a large area comprising three soil types (Acrisols, Vertisols and Leptosols) in the grassland biome in southern Brazil, and an operational regime of planting and maintenance fertilization was used to ensure full availability of nutrients. Vertisols showed the highest availability of soil nutrients, and the P and Ca concentrations in aboveground biomass were also highest in this type of soil. The nutritional status of both species indicates great consumption of nutrients, particularly of P, K and Ca. At this early age, canopy biomass components still made the largest relative contribution, although debarked stem biomass already accounted for 41.5% and 37.4 of total aboveground biomass in E. saligna, and E. urograndis, respectively. Nutrient concentrations in biomass components were similar across species. For all macronutrients, except Ca and Mg, the concentration gradient followed the order wood < bark < branches < leaves. For all micronutrients, except Cu, the concentration gradient followed the order wood < branches ≈ bark < leaves. At the plantation stage studied, i.e. before canopy closure, the importance of the components as nutrient pools followed the order leaves > branches > wood > bark. The branches hold the majority of Ca reserves in biomass and are a very important pool of Mg, K, P and B. The bark makes a small contribution to total biomass, but stores a similar amount of Ca as leaves, being the second major pool after the branches. Comparison of the nutrients supplied by fertilization and the amounts stored in soil and aboveground indicates that the operational dose should be adjusted to each type of soil after further experimental fertilizer trials, as the supply of N and P appears to be too high, particularly for Vertisols. This is leading to the immobilization of P in biomass components that are not of importance in the biological or biochemical nutrient cycles, thus increasing the risk of larger exports of P during biomass removal.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+
from $39.99 /Month
  • Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
  • Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
  • Cancel anytime
View plans

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, books and news in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Abadía J, López-Millán A-F, Rombolá A, Abadía A (2002) Organic acids and Fe deficiency: a review. Plant Soil 241:75–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson WB (1986) Diagnosis and correction of iron deficiency in field crops—an overview. J Plant Nutr 5:785–795

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Attiwill PM (1979) Nutrient cycling in a Eucalyptus obliqua (L’Hérit.) forest III: growth, biomass and net primary production. Aust J Bot 27:439–458

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barros NF, Novais RF, Neves JCL, Leal PGL (1992) Fertilizing eucalypt plantations on the Brazilian savannah soils. S Afr For 160:7–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Beadle NCW, White GJ (1968) The mineral content of the trunks of some Australian woody plants. Proc Ecol Soc Aust 3:55–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Bindraban PS, Dimkpa C, Nagarajan L, Roy A, Rabbinge R (2015) Revisiting fertilisers and fertilisation strategies for improved nutrient uptake by plants. Biol Fertil Soils 51:897–911

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Binkley D (1997) Bioassays of the influence of Eucalyptus saligna and Albizia falcataria on soil nutrient supply and limitation. For Ecol Manag 9:229–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Binkley D, Ryan MG (1998) Net primary production and nutrient cycling in replicated stands of Eucalyptus saligna and Albizia facaltaria. For Ecol Manag 112:79–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Binkley D, Senock R, Bird S, Cole TG (2003) Twenty years of stand development in pure and mixed stands of Eucalyptus saligna and nitrogen-fixing Facaltaria moluccana. For Ecol Manag 182:93–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapin FS, Schulze ED, Mooney HA (1990) The ecology and economics of storage in plants. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 21:423–447

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cromer RN (1993) Response to nutrients in Eucalyptus grandis: i. Biomass accumulation. For Ecol Manag 62:211–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cromer RN (1996) Silviculture of eucalypt plantations in Australia. In: Attiwill PM, Adams MA (eds) Nutrition of eucalypts. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, pp 259–274

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2014) World reference base for soil resources: a framework for international classification, correlation and communication. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Florence RG (1996) Ecology and silviculture of eucalypt forests. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, p 413

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonçalves JLM (2011) Fertilização de plantação de eucalipto. In: Proceedings of encontro brasileiro de silvicultura, Campinas, Brazil, pp 85–113

  • Gonçalves JLM, Barros NF (1999) Improvement of site productivity for short-rotation plantations in Brazil. Bosque 20:89–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonçalves JLM, Stape JL, Laclau JP, Smethurst P, Gavá JL (2004) Silvicultural effects on the productivity and wood quality of eucalypt plantations. For Ecol Manag 193:45–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonçalves JLM, Stape JL, Laclau JP, Bouillet JP, Ranger J (2008) Assessing the effects of early silvicultural management on long-term site productivity of fast growing eucalypt plantations: the Brazilian experience. South For J For Sci 70:105–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonçalves JLM, Alvares CA, Souza AHBN, Arthur Junior JC (2015) Caracterização edafoclimática e manejo de solos das áreas com plantações de eucalipto. In: Schumacher MV, Viera M (eds) Silvicultura do eucalipto no Brasil. UFSM Publishing, Santa Maria, pp 113–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Graciano C, Goya JF, Frangi JL, Guianet JJ (2006) Fertilization with phosphorus increases soil nitrogen absorption in young plants of Eucalyptus grandis. For Ecol Manag 236:202–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grove TS, Thomson BD, Malajczuk N (1996) Nutritional physiology of eucalypts: uptake, distribution and utilization. In: Attiwill PM, Adams MA (eds) Nutrition of eucalypts. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, pp 77–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Güsewell S (2004) N: P ratios in terrestrial plants: variation and functional significance. New Phytol 164:243–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herbert MA (1996) Fertilisers and eucalypt plantations in South Africa. In: Attiwill PM, Adams MA (eds) Nutrition of eucalypts. CSIRO, Collingwood, pp 303–326

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernández J, del Pino A, Salvo L, Arrarte G (2009) Nutrient export and harvest residue decomposition patterns of a Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden plantation in temperate climate of Uruguay. For Ecol Manag 258:92–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IBGE. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística—Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (2002) Mapa Exploratório de solos do estado do Rio Grande do Sul. IBGE, Rio de Janeiro

    Google Scholar 

  • IBA. Indústria brasileira de árvores—Brazilian tree industry (2016). Report 2016, IBÁ, Brazil

  • Judd TS, Attiwill PM, Adams MA (1996) Nutrient concentrations in Eucalyptus: a synthesis in relation to differences between taxa, sites and components. In: Attiwill PM, Adams MA (eds) Nutrition of eucalypts. CSIRO, Collingwood, pp 123–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Knight PJ, Nicholas ID (1996) Eucalypt nutrition: New Zealand experience. In: Attiwill PM, Adams MA (eds) Nutrition of eucalypts. CSIRO, Collingwood, pp 275–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Koutika L-S, Epron D, Bouillet J-P, Mareschal L (2014) Changes in N and C concentrations, soil acidity and P availability in tropical mixed acacia and eucalypt plantations on a nutrient-poor sandy soil. Plant Soil 379:205–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laclau J-P, Deleporte P, Ranger J, Nouvellon Y, Bouillet JP, Kazotti G (2003) Nutrient dynamics through the rotation of Eucalyptus clonal stands in Congo. Ann Bot 91:879–892

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Laclau J-P, Ranger J, Deleporte P, Nouvellon Y, Saint-André L, Marlet S, Bouillet J-P (2005) Nutrient cycling in a clonal stand of Eucalyptus and an adjacent savanna ecosystem in Congo: 3. Input–output budgets and consequences for the sustainability of the plantations. For Ecol Manag 210:375–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laclau J-P, Ranger J, Gonçalves JLM, Maquère V, Krusche AV, M’Bou AT, Nouvellon Y, Saint-André L, Bouillet J-P, Piccolo M, Deleporte P (2010) Biogeochemical cycles of nutrients in tropical Eucalyptus plantations. Main features shown by intensive monitoring in Congo and Brazil. For Ecol Manag 259:1771–1785

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehto T, Ruuhola T, Dell B (2010) Boron in forest trees and forest ecosystems. For Ecol Manag 260:2053–2069

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merino A, López AR, Brañas J, Rodríguez-Soalleiro R (2003) Nutrition and growth in newly established plantations of Eucalyptus globulus in northwestern Spain. Ann For Sci 60:509–517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Millner JP, Kemp PD (2012) Foliar nutrients in eucalyptus species in New Zealand. New For 43:255–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nouvellon Y, Laclau JP, Eprond D, Kinana A, Mabiala A, Roupsard O, Bonnefond JM, le Maire G, Marsden C, Bontemps JD, Saint-André L (2010) Within-stand and seasonal variations of specific leaf area in a clonal Eucalyptus plantation in the Republic of Congo. For Ecol Manag 259:1796–1807

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-Cruzado C, Merino A, Rodríguez-Soalleiro R (2011) A management tool for estimating bioenergy production and carbon sequestration in Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus nitens grown as short rotation woody crops in north-west Spain. Biomass Bioenerg 35:2839–2851

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-Cruzado C, Lutz Fehrmann L, Magdon P, Cañellas I, Sixto H, Kleinn C (2015) On the site-level suitability of biomass models. Environ Modell Softw 73:14–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prado JA, Toro JA (1996) Silviculture of eucalypt plantations in Chile. In: Attiwill PM, Adams MA (eds) Nutrition of Eucalypts. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, pp 357–370

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute Inc. SAS/STAT 9.1 user’s guide. Cary, N.C. 2004

  • Smethurst PJ (2000) Soil solution and other soil analyses as indicators of nutrient supply: a review. For Ecol Manag 138:397–411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smethurst PJ (2010) Forest fertilization: trends in knowledge and practice compared to agriculture. Plant Soil 335:83–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tedesco MJ, Gianello C, Bissani CA, Volkweiss SJ (1995) Análises de solo, plantas e outros materiais, 2nd ed. Departamento de Solos, UFRGS, Porto Alegre (Boletim Técnico 5)

  • UTHSCSA (2002) image tool for Windows version 3.00. University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio

    Google Scholar 

  • Viera M, Schumacher MV (2011) Biomassa em povoamentos monoespecíficos e mistos de eucalipto e acácia-negra e do milho em sistema agrossilvicultural. Cerne 17:259–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viera M, Schumacher MV, Liberalesso E, Rodríguez-Soalleiro R (2015) Mixed and monospecific stands of eucalyptus and Black-wattle. II—Fine root biomass density. Cerne 2:209–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viera M, Ruíz-Fernández F, Rodríguez-Soalleiro R (2016) Nutritional prescriptions for eucalyptus plantations: lessons learned from Spain. Forests 7:84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yost RS, DeBell DS, Whitesell CD, Miyasaka SC (1987) Early growth and nutrient status of Eucalyptus saligna as affected by nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization. Aust For Res 17:203–2014

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng S, Jacobs DF, Sloan JL, Xue L, Li Y, Chu S (2013) Split fertilizer application affects growth, biomass allocation, and fertilizer uptake efficiency of hybrid eucalyptus. New For 44:703–718

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the National Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq—Brazil), for a research grant awarded to the first author (Award Number 200589/2014-8) for a stay at the USC in Spain, and the Fibria pulp and paper company for making the study area available and also for financial and logistical support. We also thank Irineu Medeiros for help with biomass sampling.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UFSM Polytechnic School, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, n° 1000, Campus UFSM, Prédio 70, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, CEP 97105-900, Brazil

    Márcio Viera

  2. Department of Forestry Science, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil

    Mauro Valdir Schumacher

  3. CMPC Company, Guaíba, Brazil

    Darlan Michel Bonacina

  4. Fibria Company, São Paulo, Brazil

    Luiz Otavio de Oliveira Ramos

  5. Department of Plant Production, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Galicia, Spain

    Roque Rodríguez-Soalleiro

Authors
  1. Márcio Viera
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mauro Valdir Schumacher
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Darlan Michel Bonacina
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Luiz Otavio de Oliveira Ramos
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Roque Rodríguez-Soalleiro
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Márcio Viera.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Viera, M., Schumacher, M.V., Bonacina, D.M. et al. Biomass and nutrient allocation to aboveground components in fertilized Eucalyptus saligna and E. urograndis plantations. New Forests 48, 445–462 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-017-9572-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-017-9572-x

Keywords