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(a) Height growth of western red cedar following application of fertilizers. For each year, different letters signify significant differences between treatments based on analysis of variance. (b) Height increments during years 2 and 3 (black bars) and during years 4 and 5 (white bars) after fertilizer application. C, control; N + P, chemical fertilizer; B, municipal biosolids; B + P, biosolids + pulp sludge; F, fish silage; FP, fish silage + pulp sludge; A, wood ash. The mean and SE of three plots per treatment are shown. For each interval, different letters indicate significant differences between treatments.
Source publication
The hypothesis that growth responses of conifers to application of organic fertilizers are of longer duration than responses to chemical fertilizers was tested in two trials on northern Vancouver Island. Both trials were in 10-year-old plantations of conifers on a salal-dominated cutover known to have poor N supply. In Trial 1, western red cedar (T...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... of the organic amendments (except wood ash alone) stimulated height growth of western red cedar (Fig. 4a). Height increments during years 2 and 3 were significantly greater in plots treated with chemical fertilizer, biosolids, or fish silage (alone or amended with pulp sludge) than in control plots or plots treated with wood ash (Fig. 4b). Height growth during years 4 and 5 declined in all plots treated with chemical fertilizer or organic ...
Context 2
... of the organic amendments (except wood ash alone) stimulated height growth of western red cedar (Fig. 4a). Height increments during years 2 and 3 were significantly greater in plots treated with chemical fertilizer, biosolids, or fish silage (alone or amended with pulp sludge) than in control plots or plots treated with wood ash (Fig. 4b). Height growth during years 4 and 5 declined in all plots treated with chemical fertilizer or organic amendments. There were no significant differences in responses to the various organic and inorganic treatments during years 4 and 5. In control trees and in trees treated with wood ash, height growth in years 4 and 5 increased relative ...
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... 3 Overview of amabilis fir studies used in the synthesisPrescott and Brown 1998 Planted amabilis fir was fertilized with organic fertilizer (municipal biosolids, municipal biosolids mixed with pulp sludge, fish silage mixed with wood ash, silage and ash mixed with pulp sludge, wood ash alone) or chemical fertilizer (ammonium nitrate and triple superphosphate) once. Plantations were located between Port McNeill and Port Hardy in CWHvm1 zone on northern Vancouver Island, B.C. Plantations were 9 years old, and initial stand density was 3300 stems/ha.Prescott and Blevins 2005 Four installations fertilized with organic fertilizer (municipal biosolids) or chemical fertilizer (ammonium nitrate and triple superphosphate) once. ...
This report synthesizes published data and analyzes responses by western hemlock, western redcedar, and amabilis fir ti various fertilization applications in coastal British Columbia and northern Washington State.
... In contrast, results on upland forests have been less consistent. For example, individual wood ash amendment studies of coniferous species on mineral soils have reported positive (Hallenbarter, Landolt, Bucher, & Schutz, 2002;Omil, Piñeiro, & Merino, 2013;Saarsalmi, Smolander, Kukkola, & Arola, 2010;Saarsalmi, Smolander, Moilanen, & Kukkola, 2014;Solla-Gullón, Santalla, Pérez-Cruzado, Merino, & Rodríguez-Soalleiro, 2008;Solla-Gullón, Santalla, Rodríguez-Soalleiro, & Merino, 2006), negative (Bieser & Thomas, 2019;Brais, Bélanger, & Guillemette, 2015;Prescott & Brown, 1998;Shepard, 1997;Staples & Van Rees, 2001), and neutral (Jacobson, Lundström, Nordlund, Sikström, & Pettersson, 2014;Mandre, Pärn, & Ots, 2006;Saarsalmi, Derome, & Levula, 2005;Saarsalmi, Mälkönen, & Kukkola, 2004;Wang, Olsson, & Lundkvist, 2007) tree growth response. Although wood ash is typically enriched in calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P) (Demeyer, Voundi Nkana, & Verloo, 2001), inconsistencies in tree growth responses to wood ash amendment have been attributed to the lack of nitrogen (N) in wood ash at sites with N limitations (e.g. ...
... Given the potential benefits of wood ash amendments for tree growth, there is a need to explore and define the site factors and conditions that are conducive to positive effects. Several individual wood ash amendment studies in Canada have reported tree growth results (Brais et al., 2015;Prescott & Brown, 1998;Sevean, 2014;Staples & Van Rees, 2001) or are currently measuring tree growth (see summary of Canadian studies in Emilson et al., 2018). Here, we analyze short-term tree growth results (≤ 6 years post wood ash amendment) across eight wood ash amendment studies spanning from British Columbia to Quebec. ...
Wood ash amendment to forest soils contributes to the sustainability of the growing bioenergy industry, not only through decreased wood ash waste disposal in landfills, but also by increasing soil/site productivity and tree growth. However, tree growth studies to date have reported variable responses to wood ash, highlighting the need to identify proper application rates under various soil/site conditions to maximize their benefits. We explored the influence of tree species, wood ash nutrient application rates, time since application, stand development stage, and initial (i.e. before wood ash application) soil pH and N on short‐term tree growth response to wood ash amendment across eight unique study sites spanning five Canadian Provinces. Jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb) had the most positive response to wood ash amendment compared to white (Picea glauca Moench), hybrid (Picea engelmannii x glauca Parry) and black spruce (Picea mariana Miller), where increasing nutrient application rates increased height growth response. In comparison, black spruce had the most negative response to wood ash amendment, where increasing nutrient application rates slightly decreased height growth response. Site as a random effect explained additional variation, highlighting the importance of other unidentified site characteristics. By examining trends in short‐term growth response across multiple studies with variable site characteristics, we found growth response differed by tree species and nutrient application rates, and that jack pine is a promising candidate for wood ash amendment. These results contribute to our knowledge of optimal wood ash amendment practices and environmentally sustainable bioenergy production.
... Simultaneous applications of lime (as limestone or dolomite) and ash are recommended in severely acidified watersheds in Sweden (Emilsson 2006), while simultaneous applications of K (as biotite) are recommended when applying K-poor peat ash to peatlands in Finland (Emilsson 2006;Stupak et al. 2008). Although the effects of co-applications of wood ash with urea (Brais et al. 2015) or fish silage (McDonald et al. 1994;Prescott and Brown 1998) on tree growth and foliar nutrients have been reported for two forested sites in Canada, ongoing Canadian studies are investigating various combinations of wood ash and urea, biochar, N-P-S fertilizer, lime mud, and pulp and paper biosolids (http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/projects/140). ...
In Canada, the ash generated during bioenergy production from woody residues is generally treated as a waste material and landfilled. However, wood ash is rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus. As a consequence, forest managers in some European countries are actively encouraged to use wood ash as a soil amendment to replace the nutrients removed during timber and biomass harvesting; to counteract the effects of atmospheric deposition on soil acidity; and to increase soil fertility and forest productivity. As bioenergy production expands in Canada, the need to find alternative uses for wood ash will also grow. Regulations and guidelines for the use of wood ash as a soil amendment are largely under provincial/territorial jurisdiction. There has been little formal guidance developed specifically for soil applications of wood ash in Canada, and the use of wood ash as a soil amendment on forest soils is uncommon. Instead, regulations that were developed for other materials (e.g., biosolids, compost, hazardous waste) are typically also applied to wood ash, and these can be confusing and difficult to interpret. To help resource managers and policy makers address this issue, we have compiled information on the current guidance relevant to soil applications of wood ash for each province and territory in Canada. We have also reviewed the available guidance from European countries where the use of wood ash as a soil amendment is more common, in order to identify ways in which practices could be developed or refined to ensure that the use of wood ash as a soil amendment in Canadian forests is conducted safely, efficiently and effectively.
... 2015) ou d'ensilage de poisson (McDonald et coll. 1994;Prescott et Brown 1998) sur la croissance des arbres et les éléments nutritifs foliaires dans deux sites forestiers au Canada, des études canadiennes sont actuellement menées pour examiner les différentes façons de combiner la cendre de bois avec de l'urée, du biocharbon, un engrais contenant de l'azote, du phosphore et du soufre, de la boue de chaux et des biosolides provenant d'une usine de pâtes et papiers (http://scf.rncan.gc.ca/projets/140?lang=fr_CA). ...
Au Canada, les cendres générées au cours de la production de bioénergie à partir de résidus ligneux sont généralement considérées comme des déchets et sont enfouies. Cependant, la cendre de bois est riche en calcium, en magnésium, en potassium et en phosphore. Ainsi, les aménagistes forestiers de quelques pays européens sont fortement encouragés à utiliser la cendre de bois comme amendement de sol afin de combler la perte d'éléments nutritifs lors de la récolte du bois et de la biomasse; dans le but de lutter contre les effets du dépôt atmosphérique sur l’acidité des sols; ainsi que pour accroître la fertilité des sols et la productivité forestière. À mesure que la production de bioénergie augmente au Canada, la nécessité de trouver de nouvelles façons d'utiliser la cendre de bois augmentera aussi. La réglementation et les orientations sur l’utilisation de la cendre de bois comme amendement de sol relèvent principalement de la compétence des provinces et des territoires. Peu de directives officielles ont été élaborées expressément pour l'épandage de cendre de bois sur les sols canadiens, et l’utilisation de la cendre de bois comme amendement des sols forestiers est rare. Généralement, la réglementation s’appliquant à la cendre de bois a plutôt été mise en place pour d’autres matières (p. ex., les biosolides, le compost, les déchets dangereux), et elle peut être difficile à interpréter ainsi que porter à confusion. Pour aider les gestionnaires de ressources et les décideurs à résoudre ce problème, nous avons compilé de l'information sur les directives actuelles en matière d’épandage de cendre de bois sur les sols pour chaque province et territoire du Canada. Nous avons également étudié les directives de certains pays européens, lorsqu'elles étaient disponibles, où l’utilisation de cendre de bois comme amendement de sol est plus fréquente, afin de trouver des moyens d’élaborer ou d’améliorer des pratiques, et ce, en vue de s’assurer que la cendre de bois est utilisée de manière sécuritaire et efficace comme amendement de sol dans les forêts du Canada.
... Sarg.), and amabilis fir (Abies amabilis (Dougl.) Forbes) on cedar-hemlock sites on northern Vancouver Island, Prescott and Brown (1998) found no evidence of a larger or more sustained growth response to biosolids, on the basis of 5-year growth responses. There was, however, some doubt about this conclusion, because (1) only tree heights were measured, and it was possible that trees responded more in diameter than in height; (2) greater leaf area was perceived in the biosolids-treated plots, which might not have been converted into stem production by 5 years; and (3) greater ingress of volunteer trees was noted in some plots, such that the total response may have been underesti-mated by measuring only planted trees. ...
... The 11-year results from this trial support the earlier conclusion by Prescott and Brown (1998) that in magnitude and duration biosolids were as effective as (but not more so) chemical N + P fertilizer in increasing growth of conifers in these nutrient-deficient plantations. This finding is at odds with the conclusion of Henry et al. (1993, p. 42) that "growth response [to biosolids] is typically greater and lasts longer when compared to chemical fertilizer". ...
... This finding is at odds with the conclusion of Henry et al. (1993, p. 42) that "growth response [to biosolids] is typically greater and lasts longer when compared to chemical fertilizer". As discussed by Prescott and Brown (1998), part of this discrepancy may be related to the substantial accumulations of organic matter that naturally occur on cedar-hemlock sites, which would minimize the beneficial effects of additional organic matter provided by biosolids. However, perusal of the literature turns up little support for the expected larger and longer response to biosolids. ...
To test the hypothesis that fertilization with municipal biosolids causes a larger long-term tree growth response than fertilization with conventional chemical fertilizers, we measured the height and diameter of planted western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), and amabilis fir (Abies amabilis (Dougl.) Forbes) 11 years after fertilization with biosolids or nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer. There were four replicate plots of each tree species and treatment combination. The stand volume in cedar plots doubled in response to both treatments; in treated hemlock and fir plots, the stand volume was about triple that in control plots. There was little difference in tree response between biosolids-amended and fertilized plots. A type 3 response (growth rates remain elevated relative to those in the control) was evident for hemlock and fir. Biosolids appear to be as effective as chemical fertilizers in promoting conifer growth on these nutrient-poor sites, but their effect is neither greater nor more prolonged.
... Whereas most previous studies have focused on tree growth and environmental responses to biosolids application (Prescott and Brown 1998;Kelty et al. 2004;Wang et al. 2004), little information is available on the responses of wood properties in plantations receiving biosolids application. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the biosolids applications on tree growth and selected important wood properties across a range of stocking densities. ...
Biosolids have been applied to a 1000 ha Pinus radiata D. Don plantation in Nelson, New Zealand, since 1996. A research trial was established in a 6-year-old stand in 1997 with three stocking rates (300, 450, and 600 stems·ha–1), and biosolids were applied at ages 6, 9, and 12 years at three application rates based on total nitrogen loading at each application of 0 (control), 300 (standard), and 600 kg N·ha–1 (high). The aim of this study was to evaluate the responses of tree growth rate and wood properties to biosolids application at midrotation. Since the trial was established, tree diameter and volume increment in the biosolids-treated plots have increased markedly. This increase in growth is being maintained at midrotation, with the year 13–14 volume increment being 40% greater in the standard treatment than the control, and 46% greater in the high treatment than the control. The response in growth has occurred across all stockings in the trial, although there has been a tendency for the difference in growth between the standard and high rates to be greater at higher stockings. A small but significant reduction of basic wood density and standing-tree sonic velocity in P. radiata was found in the biosolids treatments. Although the reductions in wood density and stiffness may slightly decrease the average log value in biosolids treated trees, this will be greatly outweighed by the large increase in wood volume.
... There have been few direct comparisons of tree growth responses to biosolids and conventional inorganic fertilization in forest. Prescott and Brown (1998) found no evidence of sustained growth response to biosolids in relation with conventional fertilizer, on the basis of 5- ...
... Prescott, C.E., and S.M. Brown. 1998. Five-year growth response of western red cedar, western hemlock, and amabilis fir to chemical and organic fertilizers. Canadian Journal of Forest Research-Revue Canadienne De Recherche Forestiere 28(9):1328-1334.Pritchett, W.L., and R.F.Fisher. 1987. Properties and management of forest soils. John Wiley, New York, NY.494 pp. ...
... Assuming that plants can only access DON in the form of amino acids , it was apparent that at the time of sampling plant available-DON only represented < 10% of the total plant-available N. Therefore we speculate that while plants and microbes may be strong competitors for amino acids, there will be little competition for inorganic-N. Consequently, we hypothesize that in the temperate forest ecosystems studied here plant uptake of DON will occur but may be of limited significance, particularly given the known uptake potential for inorganic N by conifers (Miller et al., 1992;Prescott & Brown, 1998). The distribution of roots occurred predominantly in the F horizon while microbial activity was greatest in the litter layer. ...
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a central role in driving many chemical and biological processes in soil; however, our understanding of the fluxes and composition of the DOM pool still remains unclear. In this study we investigated the composition and dynamics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) in five temperate coniferous forests. We subsequently related our findings to the inputs (litterfall, throughfall, atmospheric deposition) and outputs (leaching, respiration) of C and N from the forest and to plant available sources of N. With the exception of NO3−, most of the measured soil solution components (e.g. DOC, DON, NH4+, free amino acids, total phenolics and proteins) progressively declined in concentration with soil depth, particularly in the organic horizons. This decline correlated well with total microbial activity within the soil profile. We calculated that the amount of C lost by soil respiration each day was equivalent to 70% of the DOC pool and 0.06% of the total soil C. The rapid rate of amino acid mineralization and the domination of the low molecular weight soluble N pool by inorganic N suggest that the microbial community is C- rather than N-limited and that C-limitation increases with soil depth. Further, our results suggest that the forest stands were not N-limited and were probably more reliant on inorganic N as a primary N source rather than DON. In conclusion, our results show that the size of the DON and DOC pools are small relative to both the amount of C and N passing through the soil each year and the total C and N present in the soil. In addition, high rates of atmospheric N deposition in these forests may have removed competition for N resources between the plant and microbial communities.
... Par ailleurs, on aurait pu s'attendre à ce que l'application de cendres induise suffisamment de minéralisation des réserves considérables d'azote contenues dans l'épaisse matière organique pour se traduire dans une augmentation de croissance des arbres. Or, les expériences menées à cet effet jusqu'à tout récemment n'ont rien montré en ce sens (MALMSTRÖM 1953, SIKSTRÖM 1992, PRESCOTT et BROWN 1998, MOILANEN et ISSAKAINEN 2000, JACOBSON 2003. De ce côté-ci de l'Atlantique, un essai de fertilisation avec de la cendre de bois a été effectué dans le but de contrer les effets appauvrissants de la production de biomasse sur courtes rotations. ...
... Growth responses have been noted for a variety of tree species following biosolids application (Bockheim et al., 1988; Dutch and Wolstenhome, 1994; Cole et al., 1983; Henry et al., 1993). Responses are often similar to those achieved by applying inorganic fertiliser (Prescott and Brown, 1998; Weetman et al., 1993), and are generally attributed to nitrogen and/or phosphorus in the sludge. Responses are generally greatest on poorer, and especially nitrogen deficient sites (Henry and Cole, 1997). ...
Since the mid-1990s, treated biosolids from a municipal sewage scheme in Nelson, New Zealand, have been applied to a nearby Pinus radiata forest plantation growing on a sandy, low fertility soil. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of biosolids application on tree growth, and to analyse the economic implications of any increase in growth. Data were obtained from a trial established in 1997 in a stand of 6-year-old trees. Treatments included a control, and two rates of biosolids, applied in 1997 and again in 2000 with targeted rates of 300 and 600 kg N ha−1. Biosolids significantly increased tree growth in terms of stem diameter, volume and, to a lesser extent, height. After 5 years, trees receiving the lower rate had effectively gained 0.74 years volume growth over the controls, while those receiving the higher rate had gained 1.10 years. However, diameters of largest branches of treated trees had increased by almost 1 cm over the controls, somewhat reducing the potential value of the increased growth. Ignoring application costs but accounting for the increased branch size, the extra growth achieved by age 11 years was estimated to have increased the net present value at time of application by New Zealand dollars ($) 217 and 411 ha−1 for the lower and higher rates, respectively, using a 7% discount rate. If increased growth rate is maintained for the remainder of the rotation by repeated biosolids applications, much greater increases in value can be expected. Indications from this study are that land application of biosolids can significantly increase the economic returns from a plantation forest on such sites, potentially offsetting the costs of biosolids transport and application.
