Environmental impacts of forest fertilization on terrestrial ecosystems

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5909442

Johnson, D. W.

Forest fertilization has obvious beneficial effects on the growth and vigor of trees on nutrient-deficient sites. Side effects such as improved tree resistance to damage by air pollution and, in some cases, insect and disease attack, should also be considered in any evaluation of fertilization impacts. Some intriguing possibilities for managing mycorrhizal communities by fertilization have also surfaced. On the other hand, it is possible to sacrifice ecological optimums for physiological optimums in our quest for increased production. Fertilization is a drastic manipulation that is bound to produce negative as well as positive side effects, most notably in the case of excessive nitrification. While the prospects for managing mycorrhizal activity as well as controlling insect and disease outbreaks by fertilization are appealing, long-term ecological studies of forest fertilization effects on these as well as other ecosystem components will be necessary before these goals can be achieved.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5909442
• Report Number(s): CONF-790980-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200 -- Biochemistry
553000* -- Agriculture & Food Technology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FERTILIZATION
FERTILIZERS
FORESTS
MICROORGANISMS
NITROGEN FIXATION