Authors:
Sakari Sarkkola, Raija Laiho, Liisa Ukonmaanaho, Tiina Nieminen, Ari Laurén, Leena Finér, Timo Penttilä and Mika Niemine
Book:
Proceedings of the 15th International Peat Congress
Venue:
Kuching
Keywords:
forestry, k-loss, leaching, whole-tree-harvesting
Documentfile:
ipc16p533-537a279sarkkola.laiho_.etal_.pdf
Summary:
SUMMARY
Potassium (K) is often a minimum growth-limiting nutrient in boreal peatland forests, mostly on thick-peated sites, and its deficiency may decrease the vitality and growth of trees. Timber harvestings, particularly clear fellings by whole-tree harvesting (WTH), may result in significant K losses by removing not only the K in the stems as in stem-only harvesting (SOH), but also the K in branches, twigs, and needles. Furthermore, the forest harvestings as well as ditch network maintenance (DNM) treatments enhance the off-site hydrological leaching losses of K. Increased interest in bioenergy harvesting in peatland forests has created an urgent need to clarify, if…