Modelling the Effect of Weed Competition on Long-Term Volume Yield of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Plantations across an Environmental Gradient
Several studies have quantified the responses of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. plantations to weed control on its early development (2–3 years after establishment). However, long-term results of competing vegetation effects have not been included into growth and yield models that incorporate...
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MDPI AG
2018-08-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/9/8/480 |
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| author | Felipe Vargas Carlos A. Gonzalez-Benecke Rafael Rubilar Manuel Sanchez-Olate |
| author_facet | Felipe Vargas Carlos A. Gonzalez-Benecke Rafael Rubilar Manuel Sanchez-Olate |
| author_sort | Felipe Vargas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Several studies have quantified the responses of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. plantations to weed control on its early development (2–3 years after establishment). However, long-term results of competing vegetation effects have not been included into growth and yield models that incorporate treatments of competing vegetation control, and its interaction with site resource availability. In this article, we compared several models predicting stand volume yield of E. globulus plantations established across an environmental gradient, growing under different intensity levels of competing vegetation control. Four sites were selected encompassing a gradient in rainfall and amount of competing vegetation. Treatments were applied at stand establishment and were monitored periodically until age 9 years. Competing vegetation control intensity levels considered 0, 5, 20, 44, and 100% weed-free cover around individual E. globulus cuttings. Maximum competing vegetation biomass production during the first growing season were 2.9, 6.5, 2.2, and 12.9 Mg ha−1, for sites ranging from low to high annual rainfall. As expected, reductions in volume yield at age 9 years were observed as competing vegetation control intensity decreased during the first growing season. A strong relationship was established between stem volume yield loss and the intensity of competing vegetation control, the amount of competing vegetation biomass produced during the first growing season and mean annual rainfall. The slope of the relationship was different among sites and was related mainly to water and light limitations. Our results suggest that the biomass of competing vegetation (intensity of competition), affecting site resource availability, contribute to observed long-term effects on E. globulus plantations productivity. The site with the lowest mean annual rainfall showed the highest volume yield loss at age 9 years. Sites with highest rainfall showed contrasting results related to the amount of competing vegetation biomass. |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:56:09Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-534670fda8ad4b7f9c4f9179992b6ccd2022-12-22T03:15:18ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072018-08-019848010.3390/f9080480f9080480Modelling the Effect of Weed Competition on Long-Term Volume Yield of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Plantations across an Environmental GradientFelipe Vargas0Carlos A. Gonzalez-Benecke1Rafael Rubilar2Manuel Sanchez-Olate3Bioforest S.A., Concepción 83422, ChileDepartment of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USACooperativa de Productividad Forestal, Departamento de Silvicultura, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 83422, ChileDepartamento de Silvicultura, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 83422, ChileSeveral studies have quantified the responses of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. plantations to weed control on its early development (2–3 years after establishment). However, long-term results of competing vegetation effects have not been included into growth and yield models that incorporate treatments of competing vegetation control, and its interaction with site resource availability. In this article, we compared several models predicting stand volume yield of E. globulus plantations established across an environmental gradient, growing under different intensity levels of competing vegetation control. Four sites were selected encompassing a gradient in rainfall and amount of competing vegetation. Treatments were applied at stand establishment and were monitored periodically until age 9 years. Competing vegetation control intensity levels considered 0, 5, 20, 44, and 100% weed-free cover around individual E. globulus cuttings. Maximum competing vegetation biomass production during the first growing season were 2.9, 6.5, 2.2, and 12.9 Mg ha−1, for sites ranging from low to high annual rainfall. As expected, reductions in volume yield at age 9 years were observed as competing vegetation control intensity decreased during the first growing season. A strong relationship was established between stem volume yield loss and the intensity of competing vegetation control, the amount of competing vegetation biomass produced during the first growing season and mean annual rainfall. The slope of the relationship was different among sites and was related mainly to water and light limitations. Our results suggest that the biomass of competing vegetation (intensity of competition), affecting site resource availability, contribute to observed long-term effects on E. globulus plantations productivity. The site with the lowest mean annual rainfall showed the highest volume yield loss at age 9 years. Sites with highest rainfall showed contrasting results related to the amount of competing vegetation biomass.http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/9/8/480weed controlcompeting vegetationyield modellingE. globulus |
| spellingShingle | Felipe Vargas Carlos A. Gonzalez-Benecke Rafael Rubilar Manuel Sanchez-Olate Modelling the Effect of Weed Competition on Long-Term Volume Yield of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Plantations across an Environmental Gradient Forests weed control competing vegetation yield modelling E. globulus |
| title | Modelling the Effect of Weed Competition on Long-Term Volume Yield of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Plantations across an Environmental Gradient |
| title_full | Modelling the Effect of Weed Competition on Long-Term Volume Yield of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Plantations across an Environmental Gradient |
| title_fullStr | Modelling the Effect of Weed Competition on Long-Term Volume Yield of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Plantations across an Environmental Gradient |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modelling the Effect of Weed Competition on Long-Term Volume Yield of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Plantations across an Environmental Gradient |
| title_short | Modelling the Effect of Weed Competition on Long-Term Volume Yield of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Plantations across an Environmental Gradient |
| title_sort | modelling the effect of weed competition on long term volume yield of eucalyptus globulus labill plantations across an environmental gradient |
| topic | weed control competing vegetation yield modelling E. globulus |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/9/8/480 |
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