| The FNC will continue to play a
leadership role in developing the technology
needed to increase the productivity,
profitability and sustainability of
plantation forestry. Although we have come a
long way during the past few years, many
challenges remain. Our ongoing research
efforts in nutrient dose and timing,
micronutrient additions, soil tillage,
vegetation control, genetic x environment
interactions, growth and yield modeling, and
spectral reflectance assessments are directed
at meeting these challenges. Results from
these studies will further increase the
profitability of growing forest plantations
throughout the world in an environmentally
sound manner. The FNC is currently working
to:
- Quantify soil nutrient and water
supplies and how they are affected by
silvicultural practices.
- Understand how resource availability
and plant biochemistry interact to
affect wood quality, stem quality,
and susceptibility and resistance to
insects and diseases.
- Develop growth and yield models and
decision support systems that
accurately reflect silvicultural
treatment impacts on stand growth and
value across a range of site/stand
conditions.
- More effectively use fertilizer and
other nutrient sources to ameliorate
nutrient limitations in forests.
- Develop whole rotation silvicultural
regimes that are cost effective,
sustainable, environmentally sound,
and publicly acceptable.
|
