By SHERRI TAYLOR
Journal News Editor

Muddy roads criss-cross the outdoor laboratory at Hill Farm Research Station near Homer where analysis of growing conditions, optimum use of fertilizers and herbicides and dozens of other exciting experiments are being watched closely.

Forestry Project Leader, Dr. Michael Blazier discusses each plot as he drives around the center. One area, called a failure by some, shows that chemical pruning does not work. Many of the seven year old pine trees died, others display dead limbs with only wispy green tops. Another proves that strip fertilization does not work as well as broadcasting nitrogen.

"But really, no experiment is a failure. We learn something from everything we do," Blazier said.

One extremely successful study, begun by former station leader Dr. Terry Clason, shows the efficiency of grazing cattle under pine trees. In this manner, landowners can receive profit from tree farming while awaiting harvest of sawtimber. Other ways are also under consideration.

"We are planning a study using either annual crops beneath pines or even such plants as blueberries growing as understory among the pines," Blazier said. One of the crops being considered includes watermelons, planted along wide rows left in a pine plantation.

While these projects can bring real benefit to timber owners, other projects have even farther reaching implications.

For instance, Dr. Blazier has completed some studies showing that applying fertilizer to a pine plantation during the warmer months can mean utilizing as much as one-third the amount used today, saving money, using less chemical and preventing possible pollution.

There is are currently more than one technique for applying fertilizer. One is to apply fertilizer prior to thinning a plot, another is to apply it two months after thinning, and the third is application one year after thinning. Each method has its supporters and logic behind it.

"Some believe fertilizing prior to thinning makes the trees that remain standing nitrogen-loaded and ready to take off growing," Dr. Blazier said. However, those who fertilize after thinning state only those trees left take advantage of the process, rather than sharing with trees that are taken out.

"That seems on the surface to be correct thinking," said Blazier. "However, sometimes after thinning, remaining trees go through a sort of shock as the area is opened up. They need to readjust physiologically before being able to benefit from any applications."

He explained that tiny microbes in the soil begin to turn over the nitrogen in the earth after a thinning operation has been completed making more nitrogen available to the trees in a natural manner. Applying fertilizer during this process could actually result in exceeding the uptake capability of the trees - giving them more than they need, in other words.

"When fertilizing one year after thinning," Dr. Blazier said, "you take advantage of the flush of natural nutrients provided by opening up the plot to more sunlight and removing competing vegetation." That seems to mean the trees could be prepared to take up more fertilizer at that time.

"We don't know the answer conclusively," Dr. Blazier said. Therefore, the studies go on. The goal is to find out the maximum return on dollars spent for fertilization with the minimum amount of effect on surrounding soil and streams.

"We never want to find ourselves in the position of modern agriculture that has allowed fertilizers to leach into sensitive areas polluting water with excess nitrogen," said Dr. Blazier. In early years, farmers didn't understand the need for care in use of fertilizers. Dr. Blazier's work, as well as that of many others, will prevent tree farmers from experiencing the same problems in the future.

Yet, there is another reason to learn how to efficiently fertilize trees. The new breed of super trees will never experience their optimum growth if not carefully managed, and that includes application of fertilizers at regular intervals.

Therefore, Dr. Blazier will begin this summer to prepare a plot of trees to explore further the idea that applying nitrogen in the warm months can greatly benefit timber land owners.

A second important study going on (there are too many to enumerate here) is to understand how the use of broiler house residue can benefit especially small acreage tree farms.

So far, they have shown that two to four tons of such residue, costing around $17 per ton, is sufficient for pine tree growth. If a farmer has his own equipment, he can save even more by doing the job himself.

"Currently there is an excess of poultry litter created in the area," Blazier said. Many uses for the 3% nitrogen litter have been already been exploited, so more ways to utilize it are being researched.

One important point Blazier stated was that nitrogen is not a greenhouse gas and does not damage the ozone.

In fact, trees, as opposed to annual plants like cotton or soybeans, are also very good at capturing nitrogen which isn't taken up in the soil. As an element, nitrogen, usually applied as granules, prefers to be a gas and as such will try to form a gas. However, the pine needles will trap as much as 50% of any escaping nitrogen.

Experts suggest testing pine needles before application as one inexpensive device preventing over use of fertilizer. The LSU lab will do the test for around $5 allowing each tree farmer to discover the exact nutrients needed by his trees before beginning the process.

During the coming months, more and more studies will be made public as they are completed and the results begin to be published. As soon as that happens, Dr. Blazier will begin again to research ways to benefit the forest industry here and throughout the nation.

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