Diameter Growth in Loblolly Pine after Fertilization

Key Points

• Fertilized trees exhibited significantly greater diameter growth compared to unfertilized trees six years post-application.
• Increased radial growth and basal area were noted during the second and third years in fertilized plantations compared to unfertilized.
• Dominant and co-dominant crown classes showed stronger growth in fertilized areas, outperforming intermediate and overtopped classes.
• Implications suggest that targeted fertilization can enhance growth in specific tree classes, offering management insights.