Exponential fertilization and nutrient loading of planting stock for vegetation control

摘要

Severe competition from natural vegetation often hampers successful establishment of young conifer plantations. Traditionally competing vegetation is controlled by herbicides because of their effectiveness and economic efficiency. However, due to public concern of the use of chemicals in forests, there is increasing pressure to find alternatives to herbicide use. One approach is to implement an integrated form of vegetation management that employs a variety of mechanical and biological control methods to reduce the competitiveness of the non-crop vegetation such as mulching, prescribed fire, grazing, and cover cropping, as well as methods to increase the competitiveness of crop trees that will require less herbicide to grow and survive. This paper will describe new fertilization techniques in nursery culture designed to improve the growth and competitiveness of planting stock on weed prone sites.