Resource Number: 14446
Title: Poultry Litter Application Recommendations in Pine Plantations
Description: Introduction
Forest fertilization in the southeastern U.S. has increased greatly since the 1960's. In 1998, about one million acres of loblolly pine plantations were fertilized with commercial fertilizers (NCSUFNC 1999), usually diammonium phosphate (DAP; 18-46-0), urea (46-0-0), or triple super phosphate (TSP; 0-46-0). Currently, most pine plantation fertilization is on forest industry land. Loblolly pine is considered to be the southern pine species which is most responsive to fertilization and other cultural practices. Slash, longleaf pine, and other southern pine stands are also fertilized but not to the extent that loblolly pine plantations are fertilized. Rates of return from fertilization typically average 8-12%, but can be as high as 25-30% depending on fertilizer cost, extra wood grown, and product class values. Optimal use of any fertilizer material requires that some diagnostic tools are used. These tools include soil and foliage analysis, leaf area index (LAI) estimation, soil classification/grouping, visual symptoms, growth and yield modeling, and stand fertilizer trials (Jokela et al. 1991, Dickens 1999).
Generally there are three fertilization recommendation "windows" in pine plantations:
1. ) at planting or early post-planting to correct a nutrient deficiency (largely P limitations or specific micronutrients such as boron or copper),
2. ) at canopy closure, age 5-8 years-old (usually N+P), and
3. ) after a 1st or 2nd thinning in semi-mature stands (N, P, sometimes K, and micronutrients) or several years following thinning in semi-mature stands (N, P, sometimes K, and micronutrients).
Last Updated: February 11, 2021
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