Biomass and nutrient content of extensively and intensively managed coppice stands

Abstract

Studies on biomass production and nutrient accumulation in forest stands were started 10 yr ago. The aim of the paper is to sum up the results obtained from 19 coppice stands, both extensively and intensively managed. Statistically significant relationships between biomass production and nutrient content of coppices were found, from which tables were developed for converting biomass production data of a coppice stand into nutrient contents. Significant relationships between soil characteristics and biomass production or nutrient content of these stands were also observed. These were used to calculate simple statistical models for predicting how production and nutrient immobilization vary with soil fertility parameters. The results presented here are sufficiently simple and accurate to be incorporated as they are into forest management models.