Boosting plantation growth using organic wastes

Forests NSW is continually looking for innovative methods to improve plantation establishment and boost tree growth.

Since the early 1990s, Forest NSW researchers have embarked on a number of trials using organic wastes such as biosolids to assess the impacts such soil ameliorants may have on tree survival and growth.

The earlier period of research was focused on the use of biosolids on pine plantations in the central west and southern highlands of NSW.

More recently, research efforts have turned to using biosolids and other soil amendments such as recycled organics (greenwaste and composts) on low rainfall hardwood plantations in the Upper Hunter Valley.

This Primefact gives an outline of biosolids and other amendments, the trials and the results.