Establishing oak woodland on cutaway peatlands: Effects of soil preparation and fertilization

This research was part of a large-scale project investigating various species and silvicultural techniques in order to improve afforestation success on cutaway peatlands in Ireland. Successful establishment, in terms of fast growth and good quality may be hampered on most cutaway peatlands by harsh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forest ecology and management 2008-03, Vol.255 (3), p.728-737
Main Authors: Renou-Wilson, Florence, Keane, Michael, Farrell, E.P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Afforestation
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
application methods
application rate
Biological and medical sciences
climatic factors
Cutaway peatland
Exposure
Fertilization
fertilizer application
Forest management
Forest management. Stand types and stand dynamics. Silvicultural treatments. Tending of stands. Natural regeneration
forest trees
Forestry
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
peatlands
phosphorus fertilizers
plant establishment
Quercus robur
silvicultural practices
Site preparation
Synecology
Terrestrial ecosystems
tree growth
tree mortality
woodlands
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Summary:This research was part of a large-scale project investigating various species and silvicultural techniques in order to improve afforestation success on cutaway peatlands in Ireland. Successful establishment, in terms of fast growth and good quality may be hampered on most cutaway peatlands by harsh environmental conditions. The effects of various soil preparation techniques and fertilization rates and methods on the survival, growth and quality of pedunculate oak ( Quercus robur L.) were studied in two cutaway peatland sites. Survival of oak was excellent regardless of experimental treatments applied. Phosphatic fertilization had little effect on the early growth of oak but higher fertilizer rates increased foliar P concentrations and improved stem quality. Results from cultivation trials would suggest that mounding should be avoided while deep ploughing would benefit oak performance. Protection from exposure that leads to shoot die-back was found to be critical for oak development. Overall, the hypothesis that oak requires specific silvicultural management techniques adapted to various site conditions of the cutaway peatlands was confirmed.
ISSN:0378-1127
1872-7042
DOI:10.1016/j.foreco.2007.09.059