Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.31298/sl.150.9-10.6
Effects of Herbicide-Based Weed Control and Fertilization on Nutrient Status and Growth in Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton) Plantation
Ali Kemal Özbayram
; Department of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Forestry, Düzce University, Türkiye
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
To meet the industrial demand for wood raw material, Türkiye initiated provenance trials of fast-growing exotic tree species after the 1960s. Among these, the Corsican origin of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) has gained prominence. To maximize industrial wood production and ensure sustainability, silvicultural treatments such as weed control and fertilization are of critical importance. This study investigates the two-year effects of herbicide application (3% glyphosate) for weed control and NP fertilization (180 g or 360 g NP fertilizer per tree) on the growth performance of six-year-old maritime pine plantations. For this purpose, experimental plots were established in a maritime pine plantation in Düzce, following a randomized block design with split plots and three replications. Measurements of diameter at breast height (D) and total height (H) were conducted before treatment and over the subsequent two years. Herbicide application significantly increased both D and H growth in the first year, and its cumulative positive effect persisted over two years, although it was reduced in the second year. NP360 fertilization improved D and H growth only in the first year, with no effect observed in the second year or over the total two-year period. No significant interaction was found between herbicide and fertilization, indicating their effects were independent. Needle analysis revealed that phosphorus was near the lower critical threshold and thus the primary limiting nutrient, while other macronutrients were sufficient. These results suggest that early weed control and phosphorus fertilization independently enhance initial D and H growth in maritime pine plantations, but the benefits of single-event fertilization are temporary and highly dependent on environmental conditions such as water availability. For sustained growth, regular weed control until canopy closure and phosphorus (P) fertilization to maintain adequate needle P concentrations are recommended, along with consideration of repeated fertilization and sufficient water supply for long-term productivity.
Keywords
fertilization; glyphosate; herbicide; macronutrients; Türkiye
Hrčak ID:
351710
URI
Publication date:
30.9.2026.
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