Pulpwood, Money and Energy

Summary The economic forces causing a shift to more intensive plantation silviculture are illustrated with an analysis of a weed control and fertiliser experiment in Pinus radiata plantations in Gippsland, Victoria. It is shown that as land prices rise, it becomes increasingly important to select the most efficient weedicide and fertiliser treatments. Although the chemicals added have a high energy content, moderate additions enable more effective use to be made of the energy invested in the establishment and maintenance of plantations. In the experiment analysed, the optimum economic treatment was also the most efficient treatment from an energy viewpoint. Differences between energy and economic criteria are illustrated.