Establishment of radiata pine on a high altitude second rotation site

Summary

After clearfeliing and removal of sawlogs and waste wood from a 33-year-old crop of radiata pine, a site on the central tablelands of New South Wales contained an estimated 222 kg ha ' of nitrogen in above-ground litter and logging slash, and 8746 kg ha⁻¹ in the soil. Broadcast burning of the litter and slash removed 139 kg ha⁻¹ of nitrogen, but had no measurable effect on the organic matter content of the soil. Hand raking removed 212 kg ha⁻¹ of nitrogen from the litter and slash, as well as approximately 1 cm of topsoil, containing at least 124 kg ha⁻¹ nitrogen.

It was concluded that on this site the commonly used technique of windrow raking of logging slash and litter before replanting was likely to have a greater effect on site nutrient capital than broadcast burning. Neither practice had an appreciable impact on total site reserves of nitrogen, since very large quantities are contained in the mineral soil. However, since little is known of the availability of these soil reserves to the replanted crop, it would be prudent to modify existing techniques so as to minimise their impact on the above-ground nutrient capital. It is suggested that a raking operation which removed only the woody debris would probably allow sufficient access for replanting, and would leave most of the nutrient-rich fine litter and topsoil intact.