Diagnosis & Correction of Soil Nutrient Limitations in Intensively managed southern pine forests

Abstract

Project Objective:Project Objectives were to: 1. Develop a mechanistic nutrient managment model based on the COMP8 uptake model. 2.Collect field data that could be used to verify and test the model. 3.Model testing.Background: Forest productivity is one manner to sequester carbon and it is a renewable energy source. Likewise, efficient use of fertilization can be a significant energy savings. To date, site-specific use of fertilization for the purpose of maximizing forest productivity has not been well developed. Site evaluation of nutrient deficiencies is primarily based on empirical approaches to soil testing and plot fertilizer tests with little consideration for soil water regimes and contributing site factors. This project uses mass flow diffusion theory in a modeling context, combined with process level knowledge of soil chemistry, to evaluate nutrient bioavailability to fast-growing juvenile forest stands growing on coastal plain Spodosols of the southeastern U.S.. The model is not soil or site specific and should be useful for a wide range of soil management/ nutrient management conditions. In order to use the model, field data of fast-growing southern pine needed to be measured and used in the validation of the model.