Effects of paper mill sludge and weed control on competing vegetation and growth of young red pine
✍ Scribed by Michael J. Young; James E. Johnson; David A. Thiel
- Publisher
- Springer Netherlands
- Year
- 1993
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 774 KB
- Volume
- 7
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0169-4286
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Application. Paper mill sludge application to young pine plantations may be an economical and biologically attractive method of waste disposal. However, there is concern that the fertilizer benefit from sludge application will stimulate competing vegetation and impede plantation establishment and growth. The results of this study indicate that surface application of paper mill sludge increases dry matter production of herbaceous vegetation, without a subsequent decrease in red pine growth, which suggests that increased competition is not a problem. Furthermore, weed control performed following application of dewatered sludge can effectively control both herbaceous and hardwood vegetation. Given the potentially high leaching loss of nutrients, land managers must evaluate the role understory vegetation has in sequestering these nutrients, and its importance in maintaining water quality, if competition control measures are taken.