AN ECOPHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS FOR UNDERSTANDING PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT

Forest plantations in the early stages of establishment are considered as hierarchical biological systems. Since less than optimum environmental conditions convey stress to seedlings, seedlings will in turn exhibit a strain response at the biochemical, physiological or morphological level. Environmental conditions in a clear-cut are contrasted with other regeneration niches, and implications for the performance of different plantation species are discussed. Important physiological and biochemical limitations on the absorption of water, N and C by seedlings during the establishment phase are described. An example of an eastern white pine Pinus strobus plantation grown under different levels of soil temperature, fertilization and brush control is presented. -from Authors