Forest nutrition and fertilization in teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) plantations in Central America†

Abstract

Background: Soil fertility management and forest nutrition are key factors determining management and productivity of both natural and planted forests. Reference values for foliar and soil nutrient contents and assessment of nutrient balances to evaluate the sustainability of planted forest systems can guide forest managers in determining whether or not additional fertilisation is required.Methods: This review summarises the authors' research into the nutritional requirements for planted teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) forests in Central and South America. Teak is an important species for commercial forest plantations, usually in carefully selected productive sites, with rotations of 20-25 years and commercial volume anticipated to be around 10 m 3 ha -1 year -1 . Results: Foliar nutrient concentration values can be used as a reference to evaluate the nutritional status of planted teak forests. In addition, there may be an association between the dynamics of the concentrations of K, Mg and N with tree age and the age-related declines in teak productivity. Timber extraction by felling constitutes a major nutrient output from the system and repeated nutrient exports during several rotations could be a cause of soil nutrients depletion, especially P and K which typically have low availability in these Central American systems. Multivariate analyses have been shown to be appropriate and helpful tools for grouping forest stands by fertility classes (i.e. soil management zones using the terminology of precision agriculture). Conclusions: The techniques developed can be used as tools for the design of efficient fertilisation programmes, taking into account the inherent heterogeneity of soil fertility across different stands. This is considered as a first step towards a precision forestry scheme. Whether age-related changes in nutrient concentrations are a cause or a consequence of age-related declines in productivity is an important issue for future research.

Infiltration and soil water repellency in Theobroma cacao plantations: Stand and seasonal effects

“…Several studies in the wet tropics have shown a significant increase in hydraulic conductivity with increasing stand age (Leite et al, 2018; Ziegler et al, 2004; Zimmermann et al, 2006), which can be up to an order of magnitude greater (Hassler et al, 2011). Other work shows no major differences in infiltration and hydraulic conductivity with age (Fernández‐Moya et al, 2013; Lozano‐Baez et al, 2021). While limited in tropical systems, patterns of SWR are similar to those in temperate stands where SWR is greater in older stands (Bughici & Wallach, 2016; Lozano‐Baez et al, 2021).…”

“…Infiltration and hydraulic conductivity are typical measures of characterising water movement in the soil and are strongly influenced by bulk density, porosity, texture and organic matter (Abaker et al, 2018; Fernández‐Moya et al, 2013; Leite et al, 2018; Wang et al, 2019). SWR has been shown to greatly reduce infiltration rates (García‐Moreno et al, 2013) and enhance overland flow development (Larsen et al, 2009), which can lead to reduced water availability to cocoa, as most of the fine roots are concentrated in the upper 10–20 cm of soil (Carr & Lockwood, 2011; de Almeida & Valle, 2007).…”

Vehículos aéreos no tripulados para el monitoreo del estado nutricional y fitosanitario de cultivos forestales

“…El manejo de la fertilidad del suelo se define como el manejo de los nutrientes del mismo. Esta actividad se considera fundamental en las primeras etapas de desarrollo de una plantación, ya que condicionan su productividad (Fernández-Moya et al, 2014). Para el diagnóstico de la nutrición, tradicionalmente se han utilizado las técnicas de análisis químico del suelo y el análisis químico foliar (Alvarado & Raigosa, 2012), métodos conocidos y ampliamente utilizados en el sector forestal.…”

Ecosystem Service Multifunctionality: Decline and Recovery Pathways in the Amazon and Chocó Lowland Rainforests

“…However, it is important to highlight that a decline in nutrient pools can occur by a reduction of above-ground biomass after forest clearing or through timber extraction during several rotations cycles for the case of plantations. In the long-term this would lead to a permanent loss of soil fertility [167,168].…”