APBI402-Forest Nutrition Management

Case Study: Forest Nutrition Management

Learning Objectives

1. Forest nutritional assessment
2. Silvicultural practices (site preparation, planting, vegetation management)
3. Forest fertilization and tree response
4. Causes and symptoms of nutrient deficiencies in forests
5. Biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification

January 12, 2010 

To:  	Forest Nutrition Cooperative 
	University of British Columbia 

I operate a provincial woodlot license on northern Vancouver Island near Port Hardy.  The forest is predominantly old-growth cedar-hemlock, with some second-growth hemlock-amabilis in higher areas.  It is all in CWHvm1.  One block that I harvested 13 years ago is now looking poor – leader growth is much reduced and many trees have yellowish foliage.  The species that I planted (Sitka spruce and amabilis fir) are looking particularly bad but even the hemlock volunteers have slowed their growth.  Cedar and shore pine seem to be growing fine.  Salal is very abundant throughout the cutover.  Oddly, growth of all species is good in the part of the block that was second growth hemlock-amabilis forest.  I am hoping you can recommend some treatment for the cedar-hemlock cutover to get the trees growing at a respectable rate.  Also, I plan to harvest another block next year.  Can you recommend which harvesting site preparation practices I should apply to prevent reoccurrence of the problem on this site? 

Sincerely yours, 

Gerry Ryan 
Beaver Cove Woodlot

• What have we been asked to do?
• What do we know?
• What do we need to know?