Nutrients Removal from <I>Eucalyptus</I> Plantations by Harvesting Wood

Abstract

Biomass production and nutrients accumulation in three ten years old Eucalyptur hybrid plantations located in Tarai Bhabar. Pilibhit and East Dehradun divisions of Uttar Pradesh were estimated. The wood (under bark) production was 93187 kg/ha (992 trees/ha, 98683 kg/ha (1023 trees/ha) and 82804 kg/ha (1133 trees/ha) which formed 69 to 74% of total above ground biomass. Maxium accumulation of N, P, K and Mg was obsened in wood where as that of Ca was in bark. The results indicat that by clear felling ten years old plantations, of the total uptake, 43 to 44% of N, 48 to 50% of P, 31 to 35% of K and 37 to 47% of Mg is removed by wood harvesting alone. Nutrient removal by various biomass components and its implication on soil fertility is discussed.