Eleven trees of Eucalyptus muellerana and 10 trees both of E. agglomerata and of E. sieberi growing in an uneven-aged mixed sclerophyll forest on duplex granitoid soils in eastern Victoria were felled, measured. separated into branch and stem components, sampled and weighed. Understorey vegetation and litter were also sampled for dry weight determination. Both linear and allometric regressions were developed for each species to predict branch and stem component dry weights from branch and tree dimensions. The predicted component weights for all branches on each tree were summed to estimate crown component dry weights, and regressions were then fitted for these crown component dry weights as functions of tree dimensions. Land area estimates of above-ground tree biomass were made by measuring tree diameters on sample plots. applying the appropriate regressions relating stem and crown component dry weights to tree diameter, and summing the predicted weights for each plot. The above-ground biomass of the forest ecosystem. which had a tree density of 123 stems per ha, was estimated to be 344.100 kg ha-1 of which 94.6% was in the forest overstorey. The proportions of each tree component in the overstorey were stem wood 60.1%, stem bark 15.8%. branch wood 16.5%, branch bark 3.9%, twigs 2.0%, and leaves 1.7%.

A randomized block experiment was carried out in a radiata pine nursery at Benalla where the soil is weakly aggregated and slakes severely on wetting. Sunflower hulls or sudax ST6 hay or gypsum/dolomite were added during one cycle of a summer green crop, winter cover crop and a pine crop. Plots were also split for a deep ripping treatment. The aim was to improve soil conditions for the growth of pine seedlings. The addition of 170 t/ha of sunflower hulls reduced bulk density (P<0.01) and surface crust resistance (P< 0.05) and markedly increased infiltration capacity (P<0.01). Water-stable aggregation was not statistically affected by any of the treatments because the soil has a clay content of only 18%, though there was an encouraging trend of more water-stable aggregates within the size range 0.25-2 mm following the application of sunflower hulls. Germination of the pine crop was unaffected by treatments as the seed was covered with coarse sand. Seedling survival was low (range 41.1 -47.6%), due in part to saline conditions following fertilizer application. Early growth of seedlings was greater (P<0.05) where additional organic matter was incorporated, but differences between treatments were not statistically significant at harvest. We conclude that soil conditions can be improved for pine growth by adding a large quantity of organic matter, reducing cultivation and maintaining an intensive green cropping program.