Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sustainable management of native and exotic plantations in Australia

  • Published:
New Forests Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The emphasis of plantation management changes as the resource and the market develop. This is especially the case when a plantation program is developing a new timber resource, is not the case with many of the Pinus radiata (D. Don) plantings in the southern hemisphere. Australia establishes and manages plantations of both exotic conifer and native hardwood (Eucalyptus spp.) plantations, and these vary in their stage of development. The tenure and objectives in establishment have varied, but some key aspects of the resources may be analyzed. Optimization of production per unit area was not a prime objective during the developmental stages of many exotic pine plantations. Currently, with increased commercial emphasis, this has changed to a greater focus on increased value through Site Specific Management and tree improvement through which gains of at least 20 percent are expected during the first stages. With a key objective of sustainability, questions regarding impacts of soils, water, and biological changes need consideration and are being addressed.

The eucalypt plantation resource in Australia is smaller in extent than is the pine resource, but of increasing importance, especially as the plantations are perceived to be more environmentally and ecologically acceptable than exotic conifers. In the past, questions of productivity, especially in relation to impacts of natural pests and diseases, have been raised. Sustainability of all plantations is a critical aspect, however, for specific issues there are different emphases with different species. For example, the relatively, high removal of calcium in smooth barked Eucalyptus plantations is seen as important in long term forest management.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ABARE (Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics). 1994. Quarterly Forest Products Statistics. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous. 1967. Softwood Forestry Agreements Bill. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.

  • Birk, E.M. 1991. Stem and branch form of 20-year-old radiata pine in relation to previous land use. Aust. For. 54: 30–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birk, E.M. and Turner, J. 1992. Response of flooded gum (E. grandis) to intensive cultural treatments: Biomass and nutrient content of eucalypt plantations and native forest. For. Ecol. Manage. 47: 1–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Black, R.M. 1948. The history of the Pinus plantations in New South Wales. Forestry Commission of New South Wales Forest Recorder 1: 30–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carron, L.T. 1985. A History of Forestry in Australia. Australian National University Press, Canberra.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornish, P.M. 1989. The effects of radiata pine plantation establishment and management on water yield and water quality - a review. Forestry Commission of New South Wales Technical Paper No. 49. Forestry Commission of New South Wales, Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crane, W.J.B. and Raison, R.J. 1980. Removal of phosphorus in logs when harvesting Eucalyptus delegatensis and Pinus radiata forests on short and long-term rotations. Aust. For. 43: 253–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cromer, R.N. and Williams, E.R. 1982. Biomass and nutrient accumulation in a planted Eucalyptus globulus (Labill.) fertilizer trial. Aust. J. Bot. 30: 265–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Downes, G.M. and Turvey, N.D. 1992. Stem deformation in Pinus radiata. University of Melbourne, School of Forestry Research Bulletin 8. University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, R.C., Neilsen, W.A., McDavitt, J.G. and Thirkell, D.S. 1975. Early growth of radiata pine in relation to a land classification system on Forestier Peninsula in Tasmania. Aust. For. 37: 245–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, P.W., Flinn, D.W., Squire. R.O. and Craig, F.G. 1981. On the maintenance of productivity of radiata pine monocultures on sandy soils in south-east Australia, pp. 117–128. In: Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Union of Forest Research Organisations Congress. International Union of Forest Research Organisations, Kyoto, Japan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flinn, D.W., Moller, I.M. and Hopmans, P. 1979. Sustained growth responses to superphosphate applied to established stands of Pinus radiata. N. Z. J. For. Sci. 9: 201–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flinn, D.W., Squire, R.O. and Farrell, P.W. 1980. The role of organic matter in the maintenance of site productivity on sandy soils. N. Z. J. For. 25: 229–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gentle, S.W., Humphreys, F.R. and Lambert, M.J. 1965. An examination of a Pinus radiata phosphate fertilizer trial fifteen years after treatment. For. Sci. 11: 315–324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gentle, S.W., Humphreys, F.R. and Lambert, M.J. 1986. Continuing response of Pinus radiata to phosphatic fertilizers over two rotations. For. Sci. 32(3): 822–829.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys, F.R. and Gentle, S.W. 1967. Experience with phosphatic fertilizers in man-made forests of Pinus radiata in New South Wales. In: Symposium on Man-made Forests. Canberra, Australia.

  • Humphreys, F.R., Lambert, M.J. and Kelly, J. 1975. The occurrence of sulphur deficiency in forests, pp. 154–162. In: McLachlan, K.D. (Ed.) Sulphur in Australasian agriculture. Sydney University Press, Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, I.G. and Stanton, R.R. 1993. Thirty years of eucalypt species and provenance trials in New South Wales - survival and growth in trials established from 1961 to 1990. Forestry Commission of New South Wales Research Paper No. 20. Forestry Commission of New South Wales, Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keeves, A. 1966. Some evidence of loss of productivity with successive rotations of Pinus radiata in the south-east of South Australia. Aust. For. 30: 51–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knott, J. and Ryan, P. J. 1990. Development and practical application of a soils database for Pinus plantations of the Bathurst Region. Forestry Commission of New South Wales Research Paper No. 11. Forestry Commission of New South Wales, Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lacey, S.T. 1993. Soil deformation and erosion in forestry, a review. Forestry Commission of New South Wales Technical Report. Forestry Commission of New South Wales, Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lacey, S.T., Ryan, P.J., Huang, J. and Weiss, D.J. 1994. Soil physical property change from forest harvesting in New South Wales. State Forests of New South Wales Research Paper No. 25. State Forests of New South Wales, Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, M.J. 1981. Inorganic constituents in wood and bark of New South Wales forest tree species. Forestry Commission of New South Wales Research Note No. 45. Forestry Commission of New South Wales, Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, M.J. 1986. Sulphur and nitrogen nutrition and their interactive effects on Dothistroma infection in Pinus radiata. Can. J. For. Res. 16: 1055–1062.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, M.J. and Ryan, P.J. 1990. Boron nutrition of Pinus radiata in relation to soil development and management. For. Ecol. Manage. 30: 45–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, M.J. and Turner, J. 1988. Interpretation of nutrient concentrations in Pinus radiata fertilizer at Belanglo State Forest. Plant Soil 108: 237–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, M.J. and Turner, J. 1991. Nutrient cycling processes in Eucalyptus grandis forests on the New South Wales north coast, pp. 198–199. In: Ryan, P.J. (Ed.) Productivity in Perspective. Forestry Commission of New South Wales, Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ludbrook, W.V. 1942. Fertilizer trials in southern New SouthWales pine plantations. J. CSIRO Aust. 15: 307–314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nambiar, E.K.S. 1995. Relationships between water, nutrients and productivity in Australian forests: Application to wood production and quality. Plant Soil 168-169: 427–435.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Routley, R. and Routley, J. 1975. The Fight for the Forests. Research School of Social Sciences, Aust. Nat. University, Canberra.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skinner, M.F. and Attiwill, P.M. 1981. The productivity of pine plantations in relation to previous land use. I. Growth responses in agricultural and forest soils. Plant Soil 60: 161–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoate, T.N. 1950. Nutrition of the Pine. Forest and Timber Bureau Bulletin 30. Forest and Timber Bureau, Canberra.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone, C. 1993. Fertilizer and insecticide effects on tree growth and psyllid infestation of young Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus dunnii plantations in northern New South Wales. Aust. For. 56: 257–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. 1982. Long term superphosphate trial in regeneration of Pinus radiata at Belanglo State Forest, N.S.W. Aust. For. Res. 12: 1–19.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. and Kelly, J. 1985. Effect of radiata pine on soil chemical characteristics. For. Ecol. Manage. 11: 257–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. and Knott, J. 1991. Prescribing fertilizers in New SouthWales plantation forestry. In: Forest Fertilization: Sustaining and Improving Nutrition and Growth of Western Forests. College of Forest Resources, University of Washington, Seattle.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. and Lambert, M.J. 1983. Nutrient cycling within a 27-year-old Eucalyptus grandis plantation in New South Wales. For. Ecol. Manage. 6: 156–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. and Lambert, M.J. 1986. Fate of applied nutrients in a long-term superphosphate trial in Pinus radiata. Plant Soil 93: 373–382.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. and Lambert, M.J. 1987. Nutritional management of Pinus radiata at Gurnang State Forest, New South Wales. Fert. Res. 13: 127–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. and Lambert, M.J. 1987. Forest water usage and interactions with nutrition of Pinus radiata. Oecol. Plant. 8: 27–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. and Lambert, M.J. 1991. Changed perspectives on soil processes associated with the changed land base of plantation forestry in Australia, pp. 15–28. In: Ryan, P.J. (Ed.) Productivity in Perspective. Forestry Commission of New South Wales, Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J., Thompson, C.H., Turvey, N.D., Hopmans, P. and Ryan, P.J. 1990. A soil technical classification for Pinus radiata (D. Don) plantations. I. Development. Aust. J. Soil Res. 28: 797–811.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J., Lambert, M.J., Bowman, V. and Knott, J. 1992. Two post thinning fertilizer trials in Pinus radiata in New South Wales, Australia. Fert. Res. 32: 259–267.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J., Knott, J. and Lambert, M.J. 1996. Fertilization of Pinus radiata plantations after thinning. I. Productivity gains. Aust. For. 59: 7–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turvey, N.D. and Smethurst, P.J. 1994a. Soil types as classes for managing the nutrient status of planted Pinus radiata in Victoria, Australia. Aust. For. 57: 148–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turvey, N.D. and Smethurst, P.J. 1994b. Nutrient concentrations in foliage, litter and soil in relation to wood production of 7-to 15-year-old Pinus radiata in Victoria, Australia. Aust. For. 57: 157–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turvey, N.D., Booth, T.H. and Ryan, P.J. 1990. A soil technical classification system for Pinus radiata (D. Don) plantations. II. A basis for estimation of crop yield. Aust. J. Soil Res. 28: 813–824.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. FORSCI Pty. Ltd., Beecroft, New South Wales, Australia

    John Turner & Marcia J. Lambert

  2. College of Forest Resources, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA (passed away)

    Stanley P. Gessel

Authors
  1. John Turner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stanley P. Gessel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marcia J. Lambert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Turner, J., Gessel, S.P. & Lambert, M.J. Sustainable management of native and exotic plantations in Australia. New Forests 18, 17–32 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006545722281

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006545722281

Search

Navigation