Macronutrient Stocks in Scots Pine Stands of Different Densities

Abstract

A positive nutrient balance is crucial to sustaining forest productivity. Differences in stand densities usually mean different aboveground biomass stocks and different proportions of tree compartments. These differences can be reflected in the different macronutrient stocks between stands of different densities, because various tree compartments have different element concentrations. In this study, 82-year-old stands of Scots pine were compared, and specifically, the concentrations of the elements in tree compartments and the amounts of macronutrients in aboveground biomass were compared. The nutrients considered in this study were nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. A positive correlation between stand density and the level of stored macronutrients was found for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This result means that forest managers can influence nutrient balances by regulating stand densities or by harvesting methods (SOH: stem-only harvesting or WTH: whole-tree harvesting).