Forage Production in a Five-Year-Old Fertilized Slash Pine Plantation

Abstract

Forest management companies in Florida currently fertilize approximately 10,000+ hectares of pine plantation annually. This paper reports excellent yields of bluestems with reduction in pineland threeawn 5 years after fertilization and establishment of slash pine on an Olustee-Mascottee-Leefield soil complex. Neither total understory live biomass nor total grass production was changed by fertilization. As much as a 250% increase in bluestem forage, preferred by cattle, was produced with several fertilizer combinations. In addition, understory plant responses in relation to the fertilized tree row indicate significant movement of fertilizers to adjacent unfertilized areas. Pineland threeawn, generally undesirable for cattle forage, was reduced with fertilization. The overall increase in bluestem forage resulting from plantation establishment and fertilization for increased tree yields is a complementary benefit valuable to forest landowners and cattle producers.