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Project Title: Response of Interior Tree Species to Fertilization.  Series 2 - Nitrogen and Sulphur Fertilization of Lodgepole Pine
Project Number: EP 886.01 Installation #13
District: Columbia Forest District
Location: Blackwater Creek (Golden)
Lat. 51 33', N  - Long. 117 17'W		 Opening # 82N054-053
Principal Researcher: R. P. Brockley
Kalamalka Forestry Centre
Vernon, BC		 Phone: (250) 260-4768
e-mail:
Rob.Brockley@gems7.gov.bc.ca

Objectives:

  • To document the magnitude and duration of growth response to nitrogen and nitrogen + sulphur fertilization in thinned lodgepole pine.
  • To obtain foliar and soil analysis data to assist in deficiency diagnosis and the interpretation and prediction of fertilization response.

Experimental Design:

Treatments:

  • control (i.e., thinned but not fertilized)
  • 200 kg N/ha (as 46-0-0)
  • 200 kg N/ha + 58 kg S/ha (as 41-0-0-12S)

Layout:

  • Each treatment is applied to three circular plots (3 treatments * 3 reps/treatment = 9 plots) arranged in a completely randomized design.
  • Each plot consists of an inner measurement plot (12-m radius) surrounded by a 5­m treated buffer.
  • Each measurement plot contains 50 lodgepole pine crop trees which are measured for height and diameter growth on a three-year measurement cycle.
  • All plots were thinned to 1100 stems/ha in 1978 (eight years before installation.
  • The stand was 14 years old at the time of installation establishment.

History:

  • 1986 Installation establishment, fertilization, and initial assessments
  • 1987 Foliar sampling and assessment of foliage mass response
  • 1989-2001 Assessments on three-year schedule

Status: Active

Reports and Publications:

Brockley, R.P. 1996. Lodgepole pine nutrition and fertilization: a summary of B.C. Ministry of Forests research results. Forestry Canada and BC Ministry of Forests, Victoria. Forest Resource Development Agreement, Rep. 266. 

Brockley, R.P., 2000. Using foliar variables to predict the response of lodgepole pine to nitrogen and sulphur fertilization. C.J.F.R. 30:1389-1399.

Brockley, R.P. 2001. Foliar sampling guidelines and nutrient interpretative criteria for lodgepole pine. B.C. Min. For., Research Branch, Victoria. Extension Note 52.

Brockley, R.P. 2001. Fertilization of lodgepole pine in western Canada. In Proc. Enhanced Forest Management: Fertilization and Economics Conference, March 1-2, 2001, Edmonton. pp. 43-54.

Thomson, A, R. Brockley, and J. Saini. 2001. Lodgepole pine foliar nutrient diagnosis and fertilizer advisory system. Online. Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria.

Comments:

This installation was established immediately adjacent to an area that was operationally fertilized with N+S (41-0-0-12S) in the fall of 1986. The stand also contains EP 886.12 which was established after severe top dieback caused by boron deficiency was noted after N fertilization.