New Forests (2013) 44:785–798

DOI 10.1007/s11056-013-9369-5

Analysing inter-rotational productivity and nutrition

in a New South Wales radiata pine plantation

John Turner • Marcia Lambert

Received: 12 November 2012 / Accepted: 24 May 2013 / Published online: 7 June 2013
Ó Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Abstract Comparisons of plantation scale productive capacity and productivity were

undertaken for first and second rotations of Pinus radiata plantation on clay soils in NSW,
Australia where rotation length was about 30 years. Over a rotation, where there were no
significant additions of nutrients, there were small declines in productivity from the first to
the second rotation while productivity increased in the third rotation usually due to changes
in management. On sites treated with significant quantities of phosphate fertilizer
(50 kg P ha-1) in the second rotation, there were significant increases in the productivity of
the second rotation with a residual effect into the third rotation. The early growth in the
second rotation may be higher than the first rotation but the growth changes with age.
Rotation length productivity appears to be related to the magnitude of soil nutrient pools.
Nutrients such as calcium, potassium and boron appear to be affecting long term growth
even though the foliage levels are much higher than normally considered limiting for
growth. Most of the differences in productivity between rotations appear to be related to
soil nutrients or management changes while potential genetic gains as estimated from
experimental trials, are difficult to identify.

Keywords Productive capacity
Soil nutrients
Foliage nutrients

Site classification
Sustainability

Introduction

Radiata pine (Pinus radiata D.Don) has been planted in the Southern Hemisphere for more
than a century and there is in excess of 3.7 million hectares planted in Chile, New Zealand
and Australia (Acuna et al. 2010; DAFF 2012; NZ 2012) and significant areas are now
being converted to second and third rotations. In Australia, many areas of plantation were
originally established on poor quality sites, namely those considered not suited to other

J. Turner
M. Lambert (&)

Forsci Pty Ltd, Suite 4.05 Delhi Corporate, 32 Delhi Road, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia
e-mail: forsci@fluoroseal.com.au

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786 New Forests (2013) 44:785–798

land uses, either through clearing of native vegetation or planted on degraded land (Henry
1963). After about 1980, increased restrictions on planting land began to emerge so that
native vegetation could not be cleared and planted and new plantations could only be
established on cleared land (usually pasture). While many of the early plantations were
limited in productivity and quality by low nutrient status (primarily phosphorus) later
plantings (pasture) had quite high nutrient status.
Two principles evolved in radiata pine plantation management. Site Specific Manage-
ment, the matching of treatments to site types for effective outcomes, was developed as an
objective of forest management organisations (for example, Forests NSW 2010) but for
this to work effectively, there needed to be a practical soil-based site classification system.
Many classification systems within established plantations were based on the trees
expressing the quality of the site such as site index (mean dominant height at 20 years) but
later systems were based on quantitative site characteristics (Turner et al. 1990). Climate,
especially rainfall, was important for plantation growth over broader areas (Jackson and
Gifford 1974), while soils, especially soil nutrients, were important at the forest level
(Czarnowski et al. 1971; Hunter and Gibson 1984; Turner and Holmes 1985; Turvey and
Smethurst 1994).
Secondly, the principle of sustainabilitywas formulated as maintaining productivity
through multiple rotations. In Australia it was proposed that exotic plantations were not
sustainable as they caused site degradation (Routley and Routley 1975). It was argued
additions of nutrients in fertilizer increased productivity therefore removal of nutrients in
harvesting would lead to productivity reductions (Adams 1978; Dyck and Skinner 1990).
Inter-rotational productivity has been considered in native and plantation forests over a
long period (Powers 1999) and one general outcome is that insufficient information is
available to draw reliable conclusions in relation to site productive capacity. From a
nutritional viewpoint where there are longer rotations (longer than 50 years) with either
selective harvesting or sawlog-only harvesting in forests, nutrient removals are low and do
not significantly affect productivity (Turner and Lambert 1986a; Hopmans et al. 1993).
However, where rotations are shorter and removals are more than stemwood, there are
greater nutrient losses and consequent reductions in productive capacity (Merino et al.
2005). The main objective of the present analysis was to determine whether there were
long term inter-rotational changes in soil productive capacity in radiata pine stands
growing on clay soils in south-eastern Australia, measured at a plantation level, and
whether any such changes were reflected in stand productivity. A secondary consideration
was to evaluate methods of estimating long term changes and causes within plantations.

Site and methods

The study was undertaken at Lidsdale State Forest located in NSW west of Sydney at an
elevation of 920–985 m with a mean annual rainfall of 825 mm. Soils were derived from
Permian conglomerate and Devonian shale and originally described as yellow podzolics,
now as Kurosols in the Australian soil classification (Isbell 1996) or Ultisols in the Soil
Taxonomy.
One issue was how to define, measure and evaluate inter-rotational changes in pro-
ductive capacity, fertility or soil quality at a plantation level (for example, Schoenholtz
et al. 2000) and one important aspect is identifying the relationships between changes in

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productivity and productive capacity. Our approach was to evaluate a series of elements
namely:
1. Direct yield comparisons. Yield is the quantity (cubic metres) of timber harvested
from an area and the comparison is made for the same area in different rotations. The
data included the sum of final harvest yields plus thinning for a block divided by the
area of the block and the age of the stand providing gross estimates of volume mean
annual increment (m3 ha-1 yr-1). This approach provides a broad comparison of
change betwen rotations.
2. Direct productivity comparisons. Information on stand growth was available from
plots established in the first rotation located on a grid pattern and regularly measured
for diameter and height. To evaluate possible reasons for the low growth of the
plantation, foliage and soils were sampled from a selection of plots in a survey
(Humphreys 1964) and these data were available for the present analysis. In the second
rotation, the sample plots were re-located and measured. A total of 39 plots were used.
Volume was estimated based on diameter and mean dominant height using the same
Forests NSW equations as in the first rotation.
3. Productive capacity comparisons. Productive capacity is a quantitative estimate of soil
fertility. The analyses involved comparisons of soil properties between rotations
followed by analysis of relationships of productive capacity with estimated produc-
tivity. The studies required repeated standardised soil sampling from the same
locations on the same sites.
4. Nutrient budget analysis. This method uses input/output analysis where ecosystem
components are measured and the proportional losses due to optional harvesting and
management regimes are assessed and data are used to explain possible productivity
changes.
5. Development of baseline analysis. Identification of baselines to evaluate productivity
changes and take into account environmental, management, genetics and other
changes.
Soils were sampled in a standard manner using bulked surface samples and a central pit
for deeper samples. Chemical analyses were undertaken (Lambert 1987) using the same
methods as previously. Statistical analyses were undertaken using Sigma plotÒ statistical
package testing between rotations or sites and the development of relationships between
soil properties and productivity using step-wise regression.

Results

Comparisons of compartment yield data

Using compartment data, the mean weighted average yield for the first rotation for Lids-
dale overall was 8.8 m3 ha-1 yr-1 compared with the average of all plantations in the
Region of 14 m3 ha-1 yr-1 (Bathurst Management Plan 1987). The mean weighted
average annual increment specifically from the compartments in the first rotation in this
study was 9.3 m3 ha-1 yr-1 and in the second rotation was 10.5 m3 ha-1 yr-1 an apparent
average increase of 12.5 % (Fig. 1). Compartments were separated into those not fertilized
and those broadcast treated with 50 kg P ha-1 (as single superphosphate) early in the
second rotation. Within the unfertilized compartments, yield in the first rotation was
10.05 m3 ha-1 yr-1 and in second rotation was 10.1 m3 ha-1 yr-1. That is, no average

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Fig. 1 Comparison of first and 16

Second Rotation Volume Mean Annual

second rotation yield calculated
14
as volume mean annual
increment (m3 ha-1/yr-1). The 12

Increment (m3 ha-1 yr-1)

solid circles are unfertilized
compartments and the open 10
circles were treated with
8
superphosphate early in the
second rotation 6

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

First Rotation Volume Mean Annual Increment (m3 ha-1yr-1)

change, while the fertilized compartments had an average of 7.9 m3 ha-1 yr-1in the first
rotation and 10.4 m3 ha-1 yr-1 in the second rotation, an average increase of 31 %. The
compartnents with the lowest productivity in the first rotation had been selected for
treatment with superphosphate in the second rotation. Based on the fertilizer trials in this
plantation, this response was lower than expected indicating either operational fall-down
or, more likely, the compartments were treated with fertilizer later in the rotation with less
than would be considered optimum (Turner and Lambert 2013).

Plot based growth data

The comparisons of plot based growth data between first and second rotations were similar
to those for the compartment level information (Table 1). The plots on soils derived from
Permian conglomerate and not fertilized declined on average by 4.8 % in volume mean
annual increment compared with the first rotation but were 3.7 % higher in the third
rotation compared with the first rotation while the plots on soils derived from Devonian
shales were lower by 8 % but these were not statistically significant changes. The plots in
compartments fertilized in the second rotation increased by 34 % in the second rotation
compared to the first rotation.

Soil analyses of sample plots

The samples from the nutrition survey undertaken in the first rotation were mainly on
Permian conglomerate-derived soils and results are summarised in Table 2 (detailed in
Turner and Lambert 2013). There was 52 years between the first and second samplings.
The main changes in concentrations were increases in total nitrogen and soil carbon. Total
phosphorus was not significantly different but available phosphorus increased.
Exchangeable aluminium did not change, but exchangeable calcium and potassium
declined in the surface and deeper soils, magnesium declined and available boron
increased in the surface soils. A second survey in 1978 was mainly on Devonian sediments
and there was 34 years between the first and second sampling. pH had not significantly
changed while nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus decreased, available phosphorus and
exchangeable aluminium increased, total phosphorus did not change and exchangeable
calcium and potassium decreased.

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New Forests (2013) 44:785–798 789

Table 1 Mean annual volume increment in first, second and third rotations on 3 sites at Lidsdale State
Forest
Site Rotation

First Second Third

Volume (m3 ha-1 yr-1)

Lidsdale
Permian unfertilized
Mean 10.7 9.7 11.1 n.s.
s.d. 3.69 2.96 2.9
n 12 12 8
Permian fertilized (2R)
Mean 9.5 12.8 13.6 3.7*
Fertilizer added in second rotation
s.d. 1.54 2.06 1.86
n 10 10 8
Devonian unfertilized
Mean 12.2 11.6 n.s.
s.d. 1.77 1.34
n 17 17

Relationships between soil parameters and productivity

Soil changes may be expected to affect productive capacity but the effect from each
element will be different and hence the question arises as how to evaluate the changes in
terms of their integrated effect on productivity. Using all the first rotation nutrient survey
data from Lidsdale (including plots which were not re-sampled), relationships between soil
properties and volume mean annual increment were developed using stepwise regression
(Table 3). Several sets of equations were analysed, namely those based on soil elemental
concentrations and on soil quantities (kg ha-1) but only the latter have been used here. Soil
quantity was selected as it allowed data from multiple soil horizons to be combined and
this also related to the quantitative (kg ha-1) additions and losses of nutrients over the
rotation. It was interpreted that where statistically significant relationships between soil
nutrients and growth existed, that nutrient was a growth limiting factor.
The regression equations developed using the first rotation analyses were applied to the
the soil nutrient data from the second rotation. The application of the second rotation
surface soil data to the equations at Lidsdale predicted significant declines of 5.7 % (95 %
level) on the Permian soils and 8.6 % on Devonian soils. If the soil profile to a depth of
50 cm was used for quantification, the Permian soils had declined by a non-significant
4.1 % and the Devonian significantly by 8.3 % (95 % level). The application of fertilizer in
the second rotation increased productivity in the second and third rotations and this was
evident from the soil analyses. A comparison of the plot means (Fig. 2) showed the
patterns to be the same and that most changes in growth may be attributed to soil changes.
However, they are not due to nitrogen or phosphorus (nutrients found limiting in fertilizer
trials) leading to growth responses that have driven the changes, but the cations, especially
calcium. Rainfall was not considered a significant long term factor as cumulative rainfall
over the rotations was similar.

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Table 2 Surface soil properties (0–20 cm) from repeated sampling of the nutrition survey plots over two
periods at Lidsdale SF
pH (H2O) Total N Total P Avail P Exchangeable (me %)

g kg-1 mg kg-1 mg kg-1 Al Ca Mg K

Soils from the initial nutrition survey plots (primarily soils derived from Permian Conglomerate)
1960 sampling
Mean 4.68 0.48 101.9 3.2 0.99 1.35 0.53 0.25
sd 0.23 0.16 27.7 2.1 0.91 0.57 0.43 0.23
2012 sampling
Mean 4.96 0.61 110.3 4.4 0.95 1.17 0.38 0.19
sd 0.17 0.09 27.56 2.1 0.40 0.60 0.10 0.06
Differences between the above two samplings
n.s. ** n.s. * n.s. ** * **
Soils from a later survey (primarily soils derived from Devonian sediments)
1977 sampling
Mean 4.95 0.89 126.3 5.7 0.29 3.26 1.95 0.46
sd 0.18 0.28 19.5 2.6 0.19 0.97 0.26 0.14
2012 sampling
Mean 4.98 1.28 122.6 10.6 0.35 3.01 1.75 0.33
sd 0.23 0.27 22.7 3.2 0.28 0.94 0.43 0.08
Differences between the above two samplings
n.s. ** n.s. * * * n.s. *

Table 3 Selected relationships between quantitative soil parameters and Site Index or volume mean annual
increment at Lidsdale SF
Dependent variable R2 SE

Site Index (MDH 20 years)

Combined equation for Permian and Devonian Soils
SI (m) = 14.330 ? 0.0536 * total P (mg kg-1) - 0.343 * ex Al (me%) 0.76 1.568
- 0.0112 8 exCa (me%)
Combined Permian and Devonian nutrient quantities (surface)
MAI (m3 ha-1 yr-1) = 5.162 ? 0.0416 ? P (kg ha-1) ? 0.0515 * ex Ca (kg ha-1) 0.638 2.076
Combined Permian and Devonian nutrient quantities (50 cm)
MAI (m3 ha-1 yr-1) = 5.093 ? 0.00305 * P (kg ha-1) ? 0.0146 * ex Ca 0.763 1.803
(kg ha-1) ? 0.107 * ex K (kg ha-1)

Discussion

Radiata pine has been planted over a wide range of conditions and site types (Turner et al.
1990; Turner et al. 2001) and various studies have shown there were differences in pro-
ductivity (for example, Turvey et al. 1990), and different responses to management inputs
such as fertilizers and it was proposed that there would be different responses to harvesting
removals and other nutrient losses.

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New Forests (2013) 44:785–798 791

1R/2R growth plot comparison

1R/2R soil comparison
1R/3R growth plot comparison
1R/3R soil comparison

Percentage (%) Change in Volume MAI

50

40
from First Rotation
30

20

10

-10

-20
Permian unfertilized Permian fertilized Devonian unfertilzed
Soil Parent Material and Treatment

Fig. 2 Change in growth in second (2R) and third (3R) rotations relative to the first rotation (1R) at
Lidsdale State Forest based on measurement of tree growth (tree) or estimates of productive capacity (soil)

The present study aimed to compare actual first and second rotation productivity and
productive capacity based on direct measures of both rotations rather than methods such as
establishing a trial in the second rotation, comparing impacts of establishment treatments
and then assuming that one of the treatments equated to the first rotation as carried out in
some other studies (for example, Smith et al. 2000). The first question that was addressed
was whether productivity differences were evident. While best estimates of productivity
would be long term estimates of net primary productivity, such data were not available and
hence volume mean annual increment was used as the index. This also allowed small
changes in rotation length differences to be taken into account. Broad assessments at a
compartment level used harvested volume (yield) and results showed minor changes in
productivity where there had not been significant additions or losses of nutrients during the
rotation or at time of re-establishment. In compartments where significant quantities of
fertilizer had been applied there was both higher growth in the second rotation and residual
impacts into the third rotations (Table 1). However, the productivity of the fertilized
compartments was lower than expected, based on fertilizer trial information, and this was
attributed to operational ‘fall-down’ and timing of applications. The gross compartment
estimates essentially were paralleled by the growth found in the plot estimates; however,
the use of plots provided the ability to specifically re-sample soils for analysis of change.
The next question related causes of change and whether changes in productivity were as
expected. The focus was on soil nutrient changes (productive capacity) but it was recog-
nised that other factors such as soil compaction may have an impact. The repeated soil
analyses across these and a number of other sites have shown several patterns. Firstly, in
the conversion of the land use to plantation there have been both reductions in soil nutrients
through removals and burning and changes in nutrient forms from soil heating (Humphreys
and Lambert 1965; Cromer et al. 1970; Turner and Kelly 1985; Turner and Lambert 1986b,
1988). Secondly, changes in soil properties in the second rotation represented the effect of
harvesting losses, establishment disturbance and additional nutrient uptake into the trees.
Hence, the evaluation of productive capacity through soil sampling is a ‘‘snap-shot’’ of the
net effect of inputs and losses to the soil from initial vegetation through a plantation
rotation and does not show the pattern of change through the rotation.

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Soil analyses from initial samplings were used to develop productivity relationships
where volume mean annual increment was related to the quantities of nutrients (kg ha-1)
in the soils. This was undertaken so that both the re-analysis of soils could be evaluated and
the impact of nutrient removals and additions in kg ha-1 could be taken into account. A
series of functions were developed (Table 3) and it is recognised they represent a pre-
liminary analysis and more sophisticated models will be developed as more information
becomes available. They differ from previous analyses which were based on soil elemental
concentrations (Truman et al. 1983] where the interactions between elements were
investigated, especially interactions with aluminium or manganese. While the focus was on
site index in previous soil and productivity studies on this site (Humphreys 1964; Truman
et al. 1983), it was unaffected by stocking. The data from the soil sampling in the second
rotation were applied to the functions and the outputs in mean annual volume increment,
were compared to the first rotation as indices of change. The patterns predicted from the
soil changes were comparable to those directly measured and it is interpreted that the
changes in soils were part of the cause of changes in productivity, however, the nutrients
considered most closely related to productivity change based on fertilizer trials (phos-
phorus and available nitrogen) were not the primary elements causing inter-rotational
productivity changes, those being, calcium, potassium and total nitrogen. The relationships
do not imply a deficiency in a specific nutrient, for example calcium, as there may be
interactions with other elements such as aluminium or manganese.
The present study was on P. radiata on clay soils and the question arises as to how the
results compare with other studies. On the fine, deep sand soils of the Green Triangle of
southern Australia, Keeves (1966) reported productivity declines in the second rotation
plantations. A number of initial hypotheses were proposed (Florence 1967) including
accelerated podsolization and drying out (Routley and Routley 1975). Comprehensive
studies were undertaken (Flinn et al. 1980; Squire et al. 1985) and while no definitive
single causative factor was identified, the cessation of burning and the consequent retention
of logging residues on sites together with fertilizer use, increased the productivity of
subsequent rotations (Fig. 3; O’Herir and Nambiar 2010). This site may be considered, in
nutritional terms, an un-buffered system which responds rapidly and significantly to
applied nutrients and declines similarly to losses. In the case of nitrogen, the soil capital
tends to be small and in a mature radiata pine stand (25–42 years of age), a large pro-
portion of the total content is accumulated within the biomass (Fig. 4). The sands at the
Woodhill site in New Zealand (Dyck and Skinner 1990) have low levels of nitrogen in the
soil whereas the soils derived from shale at Sunny Corner have relatively high quantities of
nitrogen and are reasonably well buffered. Other soils such as those derived from basalt
have been reported as having a higher nutrient capital (Turner and Lambert 1988). The
potential and measured nitrogen losses by harvesting and disturbance (burning) from a site
such as Woodhill or the sands in the Green Triangle could lead to a loss of more than 25 %
of the nitrogen capital whereas in clay soils, such as Sunny Corner, the loss would be lower
than 7 % of the capital. Loss of total nitrogen does have an impact on productivity,
especially in the short term as demonstrated from accelerated depletion studies (Crane
1980; Ballard and Will 1981; Turner and Lambert 2011) and was related to the propor-
tional loss of nutrient capital.
A similar pattern of change from the first to the second and second to the third rotation of
radiata pine growing in Chile were reported by Toro (2004) on metamorphics, that is, there
was a decline in productivity in the second rotation (from 25 down to 21 m3 ha-1 yr-1)
attributed to nutrient losses through harvesting and high intensity burning of residues. The
third rotation was more productive (31 m3 ha-1 yr-1 over 22 year rotations) resulting from

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20

Percentage (%) Change in Volume

10

MAI from 1R
-10

-20

-30

-40

-50
1R/2R 1R/3R
Rotation Comparison

Fig. 3 Changes in productivity relative to the first rotation on sandy soils in South Australia (after O’Herir
and Nambiar 2010)

10000

Soil to 50 cm
Forest Floor
8000
Aboveground Vegetation
Nitrogen (kg ha )
-1

6000

4000

2000

0
d

ne

le
sh

d
an
an

ha
-a

to
-s

-s

-s
oa

ds
ill

ria

er
ar

an
dh

rn
to
ng

-s
ic
oo

Co
lo
ia

V
W

ng
K

y
nn
la
Be

Su

Study Site Location and Soil Parent Material

Fig. 4 Nitrogen contents of aboveground biomass, litter and soil reported for five mature radiata pine
plantations. Woodhill on sand (Dyck and Skinner 1990), Kiangaroa on deep volcanic ash (Dyck and Skinner
1990), the Victorian sands in the Green Triangle on deep sands (Flinn et al. 1979; Hopmans and Elms 2009),
Belanglo on sandstone (Turner and Lambert 1986b), Sunny Corner on sediments (Turner et al. 2002)

residue maintenance and fertilizer use. The soils were found to have declined in organic
matter and exchangeable potassium, calcium and magnesium.
Productivity and site relationships in Pinus patula in plantations in Swaziland have been
studied over three rotations (each 15–17 years in length). Evans (1996, 1999) reported that
over most of the forest on granite-derived soils, third rotation productivity is equal or
superior to the second rotation and there had been little difference between the first and
second rotations. On a small part of the forest on gabbro-derived soils, there had been a
decline between the first and second rotations but not between the second and third. When

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the second and third rotations were compared with the first, the granite soils had a decline
less than 5 % in the second rotation and about 2 % increase in the third while the gabbro
soils were about 17 and 15 % lower. Crous et al. (2008) reported studies from the gabbro
soils and found residual fertilizer effects and responses to phosphorus and potassium in the
fourth rotation but there was no direct comparison to earlier rotation productivity. No
fertilizer had been applied to the long term study plots. The potential effects of genetic
improvement and climatic variation led to some unexplained variation (Evans and Boswell
1998; Evans 1999). In the same area, Morris (1992) reported declines in soil nutrients
when grassland was converted to pine and a smaller decline with successive pine rotations.
However, nitrogen accumulation was reported in the ecosystem even with declines in the
mineral soil. There were declines in base elements in the soil, especially for potassium, and
there were increases in exchangeable aluminium. Most changes occurred in the topsoil,
however, the quantities of nutrients in the vegetation were not reported so total quantities
of nutrients could not be calculated. These studies showed there were changes in pro-
ductivity between rotations and they were primarily related to changes in soil nutrient
capital.
An alternative form of analysis is to compare second rotation productivity to a calcu-
lated benchmark whereby the productivity of the second rotation (as proposed by Rich-
ardson et al. 1999) will equal:
Productivity of first (prior) rotation 9 f [environment: productive capacity: genetics:
management].
In this analysis, the factors have been assumed to be additive and are:
Environment factors affecting productivity including rainfall, rainfall regime, temper-
ature, other and their impact will be site specific.
Productive capacity relates to soil factors, primarily nutrient capital, nutrient
availability and soil physical factors.
Genetics It is expected in the tree breeding programs that the genetics of the plantation
will change (improve) directly affecting the productivity and yield.
Management The management inputs have short and long term impacts and include site
preparation, treatment of residues, weed control, fertilizer additions throughout the
rotation and density of planting.
A series of analyses were undertaken using different assumptions. For example, one
analysis was to assume no change in productive capacity, a genetic gain of 9 % (an average
gain of 19 % was cited by Johnson (1991) for the Green Hills Seed Orchard material
planted in this period and we have assumed a 50 % fall down), a 25 % gain where high
rates of fertilizer were used and a 9 % overall increase from improved early management
including site preparation, weed control and individual tree applications of fertilizer
(Turner and Lambert under review 2013). The calculated productivity was compared with
that measured (Fig. 5). The Permian soils were about 10.6 % lower in productivity than the
baseline expectation and the Devonian about 12.0 % lower. Between 40 and 80 % of this
difference between calculated and measured on a plot basis could be explained through
decreases in specific soil nutrients. The remainder is as a result of soils being impacted
more than estimated, and/or there is fall-down in management gains or the genetic gains
are not being realised on these sites.
The inter-rotational changes in soil nutrients should be reflected in the foliage nutrient
status of the stands. Concentrations of key nutrients change with age and the actual
concentration and rate of change depends on site and environment. From the time of
planting, nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium can be expected to decrease

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Fig. 5 Estimated second 25

rotation productivity, estimated

Measured 2R MAI (m 3 ha -1 yr -1 )
as mean annual volume
20
increment (MAI) compared to
measured second rotation
productivity at Lidsdale SF. The 15
estimated second rotation
productivity is estimated from
first rotation productivity 10
adjusted to take into account
rotation length variations in 5
rainfall, improvement in genetics
from breeding trials, changes in
productivity capacity and 0
modified management
particularly establishemtn
fertilizer use and weed control 0 5 10 15 20 25
Estimated 2R MAI (m 3 ha -1 yr -1 )

Table 4 Foliar nutrient concentrations of radiata pine at different ages during the first, second and third
rotations on Permain conglomerate-derived soils at Lidsdale State Forest
Age N (g kg-1) P (g kg-1) Ca (g kg-1) B (mg kg-1)

Rotation Rotation Rotation Rotation

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

3 years 20.1 18.0 17.7 1.62 1.81 1.71 1.52 1.77 1.21 10.2 8.2 6.4
7 years 15.2 14.1 12.9 1.48 1.37 1.24 1.97 2.01 1.42 16.5 15.0 12.2
25 years 12.5 12.1 n.a. 1.45 1.22 n.a. 2.33 2.20 n.a. 20.5 18.7 n.a.
Each value is the mean of ten samples
Figures in bold are below normally desired concentrations

rapidly, and to usually level-out near crown closure and then increase. Other nutrients such
as calcium and boron increase in concentration with age. Stands that have deficient levels
of boron in the first 1–2 years will often have acceptable concentrations by age
15–20 years (Turner and Lambert 1986c). The nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and boron
status of young stands (age 3 years) used for routine nutrient evaluation, 7 years as the age
near maximum stress, and 20–25 years late in the rotation. Three rotations are shown in
Table 4. At age 3 years, nutrients are generally adequate (Table 4). At establishment and
site disturbance and retention of slash, relatively high levels of available nitrogen are
maintained, certainly higher than required but availability declines with age while
requirements increase, at least up to the time of crown closure. This pattern is similar for
phosphorus and potassium and after a peak demand, there is a decline. In the case of
calcium and boron, requirements decline, however, there is excess accumulation in older
tissues and so uptake is higher and remains high with age and this maintains demand on
soil resources and is reflected in differences in the calcium and boron concentrations
between rotations. The results indicate that early nutrition and maintenance of productivity
is dominated by nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in labile pools early in the rotation but
limited by elements such as calcium and boron later in the rotation. The total pool of
nutrients is the critical factor for long term productivity. The early productivity of the
second rotation sites has been found to be higher than the first rotation on some sites,

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however, this was not maintained. This is attributed to the increased level of available
nutrients, especially due to slash retention but declining rapidly, and the decreased calcium
and other nutrients impacting later age.

Conclusions

Comparisons were undertaken of first and subsequent rotations of a P. radiata plantation

on clay soils at Lidsdale SF. Over a rotation, there were declines in productivity from first
rotation to second rotation while the third rotation may improve usually due to residual
fertilizer effects. The productivity of the rotation length appears to be related to nutrient
pools which need to be defined in relation to site type but cation status appears to be
critical. Early growth in the second rotation may be higher than in the first rotation or there
is not a large difference, due to high labile pools as a result of disturbance, however, with
age this changes. Nutrients such as calcium and boron appear to be affecting long term
growth even though their foliage concentrations do not appear to be limiting.
For site specific management to be effective, sites need to be defined in terms of their
susceptibility to change. The matrix of nutrients changes in the second or third rotation and
will need to be re-calibrated for management purposes taking into account a suite of
elements.

Acknowledgments The authors wish to acknowledge support provided by Forest and Wood Products
Australia, and Forests NSW for information and support and David Flinn for advice on the manuscript.

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