Implications of pre- and post-fertilizing changes in growth and nitrogen pools following multiple applications of nitrogen fertilizer to a Pinus radiata stand over 12 years

Around the world large tracts of forest, previously available for production, have been reserved for nature conservation. This means that wood supply must be met from a reduced land base, including land of low productivity. In addition there are likely to be increasing demands on the use of managed forests for sequestering C as one means of reducing the build up of atmospheric CO2. One way for the forest industry to meet the demands of increased production would be through the use of fertilizers. Substantially increased growth from fertilizer N application has been measured in many cases while, in the northern hemisphere, atmospheric N deposition has been associated with increased growth in some forests.