Determining the nutrient stocks in black pine plantation areas in Turkey

This study was carried out to determine nutrient stocks in black pine plantations. Samplings were done in 46 plots differing in yield class, development stages and canopy closure. N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Na, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu analyses were performed in soil, forest floor, ground cover and tree component samples. Changes in nutrient concentrations (%, ppm) and stocks (kg/ha) data belonging to various ecosystem compartments were evaluated by using analysis of variance. Nutrient concentration in tree components decreased with stand age. The highest N, P, K, Mg, S, Zn and Mn concentrations were found in needle. The highest Na and Fe concentrations were measaured in dead branch while dead wood and bark included the highest Ca concentration. It was concluded that macro nutrients were notably stored in needle and bark. Whereas a substantial part of total nutrient stock were found in soil, except for S and Fe. S stock were found the highest in trees in development stage c (dbh=20.0-35.9 cm, 58,9 kg/ha) while Fe stock in forest floor in development stage b (dbh=8.0-19.9 cm) and c. Forest floor should be retained in the forest because of the fact that it is a notable resourse of Fe stock. Special care should be paid to leave the needles, dead branches, barks and roots following the logging to prevent loss of nutrients as much as possible