Forest Soils
- Radiata pine foliage sampling April 2018
Ground-based sampling of radiata pine in New Zealand forests. This is used to monitor tree nutrient levels, which can be good indicators of site fertility and tree health.
- Forest soils and productivity December 2016
The soil properties of planted forests – topsoil depth, soil structure, rooting depth, hard pans, erosion risk, soil texture, water holding capacity, nutrient supply – all have an impact on…
- Soils underpin the future of our forests (Access: unrestricted)
Simeon Smaill and Michelle Harnett, August 2017
Soil forms the foundation which supports the forestry industry. Managing the mix of minerals, microbes, moisture and organic matter which make up soil to get the greatest tree growth while…
- Foliage sampling season begins in February (Access: unrestricted)
Murray Davis and Jianming Xue, February 2010
Foliage analysis is needed to determine the nutrient status of a forest crop. This analysis is to identify the cause of a nutrient disorder or poor vigour, or to confirm…
- Digging the Good Dirt on Soil Bugs: Denis Hocking's blog, October 07, 2015
Volunteers Wanted: Scion soil scientist Simeon Smaill is looking for volunteers to help with a series of trials he is running around the country. He is looking at the effect…
- Making better use of forest soil microbes August 2015
Soil microbes can have a significant positive impact on forest performance, but we have few reliable options to enhance the benefits they can provide. A substantial new trial series has…
- What science is the forest levy providing farm foresters? April 2015
Growing Confidence in Forestry’s Future (GCFF) Research Programme: At the recent GCFF conference a wide array of results with direct relevance to farm foresters were presented by the scientists working…
- Trees, soil and you February 2015
A new survey has been released by Scion to capture current industry opinion regarding the value of soil data to forest managers, as part of the Growing Confidence in Forestry’s…
- Looking underground without digging a hole November 2014
Growing Confidence in Forestry’s Future (GCFF) Research Programme A new soil survey tool allows Scion scientists to assess below ground variation in soil properties using electromagnetic pulses. November 2014 The…
- Planted Forest Soils (Scion publication, August 2017)
Planted forest soils provide many benefits including growing timber and fibre, cleaning water through filtering, and regulating flooding by storing water. New Zealand has a wide diversity of soil types. They are generally young and naturally acidic with low levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur. Planted forests are typically on low fertility or steep terrain land that is not suitable for agriculture. Best management practices and ongoing improvements are needed for planted forest soils to continue to provide multiple benefits to New Zealanders. This includes maintaining fertility in a low nutrient input production system, especially as many of New Zealand’s planted forest soils are now supporting their third rotation There are also challenges in reducing soil loss through erosion in steep, erodible country, particularly during harvest.
- Planted-forest Nutrition
Davis, M., J. Xue and P. Clinton, Scion, 2015
- The occurrence and treatment of magnesium deficiency in radiata pine in New Zealand
FRI Bulletin No. 172, Hunter, I. R. (1996).
- An atlas of radiata pine nutrition in New Zealand
FRI Bulletin No. 165, Hunter, I. R., B. E. Rodgers, A. Dunningham, J. M. Prince and A. J. Thorn (1991).
- Field guide to nutrient deficiencies in radiata pine
FRI Bulletin No. 97 (Supplement), Will, G. M. (1985).
- Nutrient deficiencies and fertiliser use in New Zealand exotic forests
FRI Bulletin No. 97, Will, G. M. (1985).
Farm Forestry - Headlines
Article archive »
- RECOGNITION FOR FORESTRY’S HIGHEST ACHIEVERS IN 2022
Sunday, September 18, 2022
This week at an awards dinner held in Auckland the New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) announced the winners of its three most prestigious awards. The 2022 recipients are acknowledged…
- Wooden cities key to cutting worldwide carbon emissions to combat climate change
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
The Forest Owners Association President is predicting massive increases in the worldwide demand for engineered timber construction. Grant Dodson has told delegates at the Forest Institute Conference in Auckland today…
- Forestry Transformation Plan could be ‘game changer’
Sunday, August 21, 2022
Forestry Transformation Plan could be ‘game changer’ for New Zealand economy and for combating climate change The Forest Owners Association says the Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan has…
- New campaign launches to attract more people into forestry careers
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
A new recruitment campaign called ‘Find Your Fit In Forestry’ aims to draw attention to the varied career opportunities available in the growing forestry industry. A sector-wide initiative, the campaign…
- Trees on Your Farm – Pilot Workshops
Friday, July 01, 2022
In May, members of the NZFFA held three pilot workshops in the lower North Island aimed at encouraging hill country farmers to grow more trees. The format was a day…
- Federated Farmers struggling with both the law and arithmetic
Thursday, June 30, 2022
The Forest Owners Association says Federated Farmers have got their sums wrong on the rate of forest planting and don’t understand the law on overseas investment either. FOA is responding…
- New Zealand Future Foresters part of the launch of Global Network for Forestry Young Professionals
Sunday, June 12, 2022
Future Foresters New Zealand is supporting a global effort to unite forestry young professionals to promote, grow, and raise awareness of the importance and opportunities of the forest sector. The…
- Forest Owners say native trees are nice but won’t solve the Climate Emergency
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
The Forest Owners Association says the just released Emissions Reduction Plan is a welcome and unprecedented blueprint for reducing New Zealand’s gross emissions. But the Association is warning that a…
- ‘Smart spade’ one of new technologies for forest silviculture project
Thursday, May 05, 2022
A ‘smart spade’ which identifies exactly where to plant a tree seedling is just one of the new technologies in the seven-year $25.5 million Precision Silviculture development project. The newly…
- Forest Owners call for forest trade mission to India
Monday, April 11, 2022
Forest Owners call for forest trade mission to India following approval of new fumigant for log exports The Forest Owners Association wants a delegation of government ministers to urgently go to…
- Forest Owners and Federated Farmers mourn passing of former Chief Executive of both organisations
Sunday, April 03, 2022
The pastoral and forest industries are mourning the recent passing of Rob McLagan, who served as Chief Executive of both Federated Farmers and the Forest Owners Association. Rob was CE…
- Joint efforts under way after unwanted pest detected in Tauranga
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Biosecurity New Zealand is working with primary sector and Te Tiriti partners after a single confirmed egg mass belonging to the moth pest the fall armyworm was found in Tauranga.…
- Forest Biosecurity update March 2022
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Check out the latest Biosecurity newsletter which gives an update on the biosecurity surveillance system, pitch pine canker, red needle cast, tortoise beetles, a new ladybird (always good) and the…
- Forest Owners says IPCC doesn't back Anne Salmond
Wednesday, March 02, 2022
The Forest Owners Association says highly qualified reservations in the latest International Panel on Climate Change report, do not back anthropologist Anne Salmond’s claims that New Zealand should switch exclusively…
- Forest Owners puzzled at overseas investment reform
Thursday, February 24, 2022
The Forest Owners Association is asking why the government needs to reintroduce more process around overseas investment for conversions from pasture to plantation forests. The Associate Minister of Finance, David…
- Forest Owners tell government to look across the Tasman
Monday, February 21, 2022
The Forest Owners Association is telling the government that Australia’s support of plantation forestry is in sharp contrast to the increasingly restrictive measures being promised in New Zealand by our…
- The folly of the native forest carbon solution
Monday, February 21, 2022
The Farm Forestry Association says anthropologist Dame Anne Salmond’s recently publicised views, that planting native forests offer the best solution to the climate crisis, is misinformed and misleading. Association President Graham West says the overwhelming…
- Forestry Minister has strategic leadership opportunity in farm forestry
Friday, February 04, 2022
The Farm Forestry Association says Forestry Minister, Stuart Nash, should incentivise farmers to plant more trees to combat climate change. Association President Graham West asks, “Why isn’t the government working…
- Forest Owners challenge Federated Farmers to prove misleading carbon farming claims
Tuesday, February 01, 2022
The Forest Owners Association is telling Federated Farmers that it needs to educate itself about how the Overseas Investment Act works before making any more false claims about non-existent overseas…
- Further tax changes possible
Monday, January 17, 2022
Changes are possible to the ‘cost of standing timber’ provisions of the Income Tax Act. Farm Forestry members have been working to help willing owners aggregate their forests for economies…
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