Assessing drivers of plantation forest productivity on eroded and non-eroded soils in hilly land, eastern North Island, New Zealand

Abstract

Background: The effect of soil erosion on New Zealand production forestry is not well known and there has been no research prior to our study into the relationship between soil nutrient status and planted forests growing in eroded soils in steeplands. Methods: The impact of soil erosion by mass movement on forest productivity was investigated in a paired plot trial in a planted forest in a mainly hilly to steepland catchment (Pakuratahi) near Napier, eastern North Island, New Zealand. Tree growth and form were measured and soil properties analysed to compare productivity and productivity drivers in adjacent non-eroded and eroded plots.

Site quality assessment and allometric models for tree species in the Oban Forest, Nigeria

“…These values may also have significantly contributed to tree growth in the study area as there were positive correlations with the tree basal area and stem volume per hectare, which is in line with the findings of Davis and Lang (1991) and Davis, Grace, and Horrell (1996) who noted that phosphorus deficiency in forest soil is a common limiting growth factor among tree species. It has been observed that where there is deforestation of some sort leading to soil erosion, soil phosphorus concentrations were significantly lower compared to better stocked and noneroded forest soil (Heaphy et al, 2014). Trees measured in the poorer sites were smaller in stem volume and basal area per hectare, corroborating the work of Heaphy et al (2014) who reported that trees grown on eroded soils were found to be significantly smaller in terms of volume when compared to trees grown on noneroded soils (Table 6).…”

“…It has been observed that where there is deforestation of some sort leading to soil erosion, soil phosphorus concentrations were significantly lower compared to better stocked and noneroded forest soil (Heaphy et al, 2014). Trees measured in the poorer sites were smaller in stem volume and basal area per hectare, corroborating the work of Heaphy et al (2014) who reported that trees grown on eroded soils were found to be significantly smaller in terms of volume when compared to trees grown on noneroded soils (Table 6). …”

Modelling of root reinforcement and erosion control by ‘Veronese’ poplar on pastoral hill country in New Zealand

“…Pastures established on steep (20-35°) hillslopes in New Zealand for livestock grazing is an example of land use which over a long period has caused major issues from a landscape management perspective (Blaschke et al 1992). In particular, shallow landslides cause considerable losses of productive soil and represent a challenge for risk management in such systems (Heaphy et al 2014). Furthermore, landslide scars may contribute to further erosion from other processes that may cause continuing on-and off-farm effects including enhanced loss of soil productivity, water holding capacity, and decline in water quality of streams and rivers.…”

Shallow landslides and vegetation at the catchment scale: A perspective

“…Additionally, shallow landslides affect humans by rapidly changing the volume of sediment in channels and impacting river water quality, creating hazards to infrastructure and human lives, and loss of soil 1 resulting in declining productivity of grasslands (Rosser and Ross, 2011) and forests (Heaphy et al, 2014).…”