“…The beneficial effects of site preparation (Gent et al 1986, McKee andWilhite 1986) and the importance of understory competition control have similarly resulted in large increases in productivity, particularly during the first years of stand development (Nelson et al 1981, Colbert et al 1990, Neary et al 1990a, Britt et al 1990, Haywood et al 1997. Equally important have been the large and long-term growth responses associated with the application of various types and rates of fertilizers in both young and established stands (Pritchett and Comerford 1982, Colbert et al 1990, Neary et al 1990b, Jokela et al 1991, Albaugh et al 1998.…”