Relative, but not absolute, thinning responses decline with increasing thinning age in a Eucalyptus nitens plantation

Abstract

SummaryGrowth rates of trees and stand structure change as stands age, and therefore absolute and relative thinning responses may also vary with thinning age. The study examined whether thinning age influenced the relative and absolute thinning responses in Eucalyptus nitens plantations near Carrajung, Victoria, Australia, and whether this effect was influenced by nitrogen (N) fertiliser application. Two levels of thinning and fertiliser application were applied in a factorial design replicated three times in a randomised block layout in each of two trials established in September 2006 in adjacent plantations aged 3.2 y and 13.2 y respectively and from the same seed source. Treatments includ..