REPORT ON THE TESTS CONDUCTED IN 1997 BY THE INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENT OF SOIL SCIENCE AND FERTILIZATION AT THE FORESTRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN WARSAW (POLAND) ON RANDOMLY SELECTED SITES INTO THE FERTILIZING OF SPRUCE AND BEECH WITH SILVAMIX® MG F

Spruce and beech seedlings of various ages were fertilized with tablets of SILVAMIX? MG. Measurement of height growths was conducted following the first vegetation season. The results of this measurement were heterogeneous, though positive effects of fertilizing were seen in all cases in comparison with the control.

Fertilizing was carried out on 7 randomly selected sites, at a quantity of 4 tablets (of 10 g each) per seedling. These sites are located in difficult climatic conditions and the soil on them is heavily damaged and acidic.

1997 was a year with a large amount of rainfall, particularly in the mountains of the Sudeten region in which Szklarska PorÄ™ba is located, where the fertilizing with SILVAMIX® MG was carried out. This fact may have played a large part in heightening the effect of fertilizing.

The plant growths caused by fertilizing in the first vegetation season following application of the fertilizer are given below, and these must be evaluated as preliminary results. It will be possible to present a more accurate picture of the effects of SILVAMIX® MG fertilizer on the growth of forest plants on the conclusion of the two-years observation in 1998.

Site 1
The height growth in 1997 of fertilized 4-year spruce planted in 1996 is on average 56.4% greater (test 12.2 cm, control 7.8 cm).

Site 2
The height growth in 1997 of fertilized 4-year spruce planted in 1996 is on average 47.9% greater (test 10.5 cm, control 7.1 cm).

Site 3
The height growth in 1997 of fertilized 5-year spruce planted in 1995 is on average 44.6% greater (test 12.0 cm, control 8.3 cm).

Site 4
The height growth in 1997 of fertilized 8-year spruce planted in 1992 is on average 34.8% greater (test 31.4 cm, control 23.3 cm).

Site 5
The height growth in 1997 of fertilized 4-year beech planted in 1996 is on average 60.5% greater (test 13.0 cm, control 8.1 cm).

Site 6
The height growth in 1997 of fertilized 4-year beech planted in 1996 is on average 58.0% greater (test 6.6 cm, control 10.5 cm).

Site 7
The height growth in 1997 of fertilized 5-year beech planted in 1995 is on average 43.0% greater (test 12.3 cm, control 8.6 cm).

The measurements of heights and their expression in percentages for the control seedlings and seedlings fertilized with SILVAMIX®MG show that significantly greater plant growth in the first year after fertilizing is seen in younger seedlings. The plant growth caused by fertilizing, as seen in the observed spruce and beech seedlings, falls in connection with their increased age.

On the basis of observations of the colour of the control spruce and beech seedlings (a yellow shade) a deficiency of nutrients can be inferred. After fertilizing with SILVAMIX® MG the plants were seen to become markedly greener.

It will be possible to submit a complete picture of the effectiveness of SILVAMIX® MG fertilizer on forest plantations in the ecologically threatened region of Szklarska PorÄ™ba following the evaluation of the results of a larger number of experimental sites in 10 forest areas.

Enclosed with the report are photographs documenting the growth increase effects seen in seedlings fertilized with SILVAMIX® MG fertilizer as against the unfertilized control in 1997.

Spruce (Site 3) - 79.0% in comparison wit the control (test 37.6 cm, control 21.0 cm)

Photo 1 - 5 year		Photo 2

Beech (Site 5) - 80.6% in comparison wit the control (test 25.1 cm, control 13.9 cm)

Photo 3		Photo 4

Warsaw-Sękocin, September 1997