Download Maximising on farm forest nutrient sequestration: Project data

This project explored management options to maximise the ability of radiata pine to transfer nitrogen from nutrient-rich soils into tree biomass. The project collected data from 12 existing afforestation sites and 3 newly installed pastoral afforestation trials, enabling projections of nutrient movement and storage over the life of a rotation. These predictions demonstrated a substantial opportunity exists to rapidly reduce soil nitrogen loads to manageable levels, but the 3 new afforestation trials need to run another 4 to 5 years to provide sufficient evidence to enable confidence in wider adoption. The trial sites, on Pamu Farms properties, are a unique resource, and could be utilised for silvopastoral systems research on biostimulants, residue management and biofuel generation alongside pastoral farming.