Abstract
The effects of thinning and refertilization on growth of Pinus radiata in three experiments planted at 11 960 stems ha−1 were examined. Responses to thinning and refertilization were obtained at 3 or 5 years after planting despite heavy applications of fertilizer at establishment. During the 3 years following retreatment, trees which had been thinned to 2990 stems ha−1 had twice the sectional area increments of unthinned trees, while up to a 3-fold increase in increment was obtained on trees which had been thinned and refertilized. Responses to nitrogen were obtained in all experiments. Response to phosphate was dependent upon soil type and prior treatment. Foliar analyses do not appear to be reliable for predicting responses to fertilization applied in combination with thinning.
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Snowdon, P., Waring, H.D. Response of young densely stocked stands of Pinus radiata to thinning and refertilization. New Forest 10, 207–223 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00027924
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00027924