Biomass production and nutrient cycling in Eucalyptus short rotation energy forests in New Zealand.: I:: biomass and nutrient accumulation

Accumulation of biomass and nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Mn) was measured during the first 3-year rotation of three Eucalyptus short rotation forest species (E. botryoides, E. globulus and E ovata) irrigated with meatworks effluent compared with no irrigation. E. globulus had the highest biomass and nutrient accumulation either irrigated with effluent or without irrigation. After 3-year growth, E globulus stands irrigated with effluent accumulated 72 oven dry t/ha of above-ground total biomass with a total of 651 kg N, 55 kg P, 393 kg K, 251 kg Ca, 35 kg Mg and 67 kg Mn. Effluent irrigation increased the accumulation of biomass, N, P, K and Mn, but tended to reduce the leaf area index and leaf biomass, and decreased the accumulation of Ca and Mg. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.