Effect of Two Phosphate Fertilizers on Yield, Financial Yield, and Wood Quality of Radiata Pine

A significant response to phosphate fertilizers has been obtained in a plantation of Pinus radiata on a poor site. A marked increase in yield of merchantable timber and in profit were obtained in phosphate-treated trees. No differences of practical significance were found between treatments in respect to the wood properties, basic density, latewood, and mean tracheid length. It is concluded that phosphate fertilizers can be used on some poor sites to achieve moderately high growth rates without causing deterioration of certain important wood propreties.