Abstract
Fertiliser management for optimal productivity in monoculture forest plantations involves key processes including site-specific prediction and on-going calibration (in terms of tree growth and nutrient requirements), and decision-making (in terms of fertiliser management plans). These processes are ultimately dependent on the integrity and representativeness of the databases on local conditions, tree growth potential and soil fertility indicators. Given the fact that data collection is a costly exercise, it is important to identify the scope of data entities that are economically achievable and scientifically sound, and logical processes that are required for mining the databases for decision making. Four key components of the system framework proposed are: (1) growth modelling of total and component biomass at the tree and stand level; (2) databases of internal nutrient requirements in trees and nutrient loading in biomass components; (3) databases of available nutrient pools in the soil; and (4) databases about fertilisers’ effectiveness in terms of replenishing available nutrient pools in soil. The framework presented here is by no means complete, but serves as a starting point for detailed data and process modelling and field calibration.
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