Growth and nutrition of Pinus radiata in response to fertilizer applied after thinning and interaction with defoliation associated with Essigella californica

Mid-rotation response to fertilizer by Pinus radiata D. Don at three contrasting sites

“…An important intervention for improving productivity from planted forests is to optimize tree nutrition at various stages throughout a rotation by management (Albaugh et al 2004). The application of fertilizer at mid-rotation to fastgrowing pine plantations has been reported for P. radiata D. Don in Australia (Carlyle 1995;Hopmans et al 2008), New Zealand (Rivaie, Tillman 2009), and has become a more common practice in the southeastern United States for loblolly pine (Fox et al 2007;Albaugh et al 2012). However, these practices have been rarely reported in South America where extensive areas of pine plantations have been established.…”

Defoliation and growth relationships for mid-rotation Sitka spruce attacked by the green spruce aphid, Elatobium abietinum (Walker) (Homoptera: Aphididae)

“…This might be a reflection of older needle age-classes being more sensitive to the material introduced into the tree during infestation, but equally it might reflect a more general response of older trees to damage or a degree of stress. Drought stress and nutrient deficiency, for example, increase the rate at which older needles are lost from pine (Hopmans et al, 2008;Eyles et al, 2011).…”

Quantifying stem growth loss at the tree-level in a Pinus radiata plantation to repeated attack by the aphid, Essigella californica

“…One of the more recent challenges for the profitable production of P. radiata plantations in Australia has been repeated defoliation by the exotic pest insect, Essigella californica Essig (Hemiptera: Aphididae) (May and Carlyle, 2003;May, 2004;Hopmans et al, 2008). First detected in 1998 (Carver and Kent, 2000), outbreaks of E. californica aphid have been closely associated with widespread needle yellowing and defoliation (up to 50%) of mid-rotation P. radiata plantations (e.g.…”

“…First detected in 1998 (Carver and Kent, 2000), outbreaks of E. californica aphid have been closely associated with widespread needle yellowing and defoliation (up to 50%) of mid-rotation P. radiata plantations (e.g. Hopmans et al, 2008). Interestingly, the aphid is not considered a major pest in its native range of western North America or radiata pine grown elsewhere (e.g.…”

“…That is, defoliation starts from mid-whorl and progresses to shoot tips then as severity increases, progresses up the terminal shoot and down into the lower crown, resulting in very thin mid to upper crowns. Peak infestations occur during late summer and early autumn and damaged needles are shed progressively during late autumn and early winter (Hopmans et al, 2008).…”