Forest production, climate benefits, and sustainability? Effects of 42 years of nitrogen fertilisation at a field site in Västerbotten County

The aim of the project is to shed light on the possibilities and consequences of forest fertilisation at different intensity.

In a bio-based society, fertilisation can be used as a potential tool to rapidly increase the amount of biomass. An important prerequisite is that this is done in a sustainable and resource-efficient way.

In this project, we will investigate how long-term fertilisation affects tree growth, wood properties, climate benefits, mycorrhizal communities, field vegetation, mosses and lichens.

The study is conducted at a field site started in 1982 in Västerbotten County. A total of 0 to 3300 kg of nitrogen (N) per ha was applied to study plots over a 42-year period. This corresponds to up to 22 standard single-shot fertiliser applications. The stand is almost 120 years old and ready for final felling. The site provides a unique opportunity to investigate effects of long-term N fertilisation in N-limited forest on biomass production, climate benefits and sustainability.