Best Practice Knowledge Base
5.4 Soil fertilization
Soil fertilization is used to enhance soil fertility and nutrient availability, which are critical for promoting the successful establishment and growth of vegetation in degraded or nutrient-poor soils. By replenishing essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, fertilization can accelerate forest recovery, support biodiversity, and improve soil structure. However, it must be carefully managed to avoid negative side effects, such as nutrient imbalances, water pollution, or harm to native species. The use of fertilizers and techniques adequate to specific site conditions and restoration goals, is essential to ensure that fertilization contributes positively to long-term ecological restoration outcome.
I. Guidelines
| Nº | Title | Author | Year | Focus Region | Language | Summary | Link |
| 1 | Forest fertilization guidebook | British Columbia Government | 2024 | Canada | English | Detailed guide for forest soil fertilization and monitoring | https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/managing-our-forest-resources/silviculture/silvicultural-systems/silviculture-guidebooks/forest-fertilization-guidebook?utm_source=chatgpt.com |
| 2 | Soil Disturbance Rehabilitation: A Desk Guide to Techniques and Monitoring | US Forest Service | 2021 | US | English | Detailed guide for the rehabilitation of disturbed soils, including soil amendments | https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/pubs_journals/2021/rmrs_2021_nash_m001.pdf |
II. Books or book chapters
| Nº | Title | Author | Chapter | Chapter author | Year | Focus region | Language | Summary | Link |
| 1 | Growing plantation forests | West | Nutrient management | - | 2014 | World | English | Principles and techniques for nutrient management and fertilization | https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-01827-0 |
| 2 | The practice of silviculture: Applied forest ecology | Ashton and Kelty | Site treatments - Site improvement conversion and restoration | - | 2017 | World | English | Principles and practice of fertilization for site preparation | https://www.wiley-vch.de/de/fachgebiete/naturwissenschaften/the-practice-of-silviculture-978-1-119-27095-9 |
| 3 | Plantation silviculture in Europe | Savill et al. | Nutrition and fertilizers | - | 1997 | Europe | English | Principles and practice of fertilization in forest soils | https://global.oup.com/academic/product/plantation-silviculture-in-europe-9780198549086?cc=us&lang=en&# |
| 4 | Selvicoltura generale | Piussi and Alberti | Tecniche particolari di coltivazione: Le concimazioni in foresta | - | 2015 | Italy | Italian | Principles of soil fertilization in forests | - |
| 5 | Waldbau auf Ökologischer Grundlage | Bartsch et al. | Bestandespflege - Düngung | - | 2020 | Germany | German | Introduction to fertilization from a silvicultural perspective | https://www.utb.de/doi/book/10.36198/9783838587547 |
| 6 | Grundriss des Waldbaus | Burschell and Huss | Bestandeserziehung-Bestandespflege - Düngung | - | 2004 | Europe | German | Introduction to fertilization from a silvicultural perspective | - |
| 7 | Ecology and management of forest soils | Binkley and Fischer | Nutrition management | - | 2019 | World | English | Introduction and applications of forest soil fertilization | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119455745 |
III. Scientific articles
| Nº | Title | Author | Year | Focus region | Language | Type | Summary | Link |
| 1 | Fertilization and Soil Microbial Community: A Review | Dincă et al. | 2022 | World | English | Narrative review | Effects of the use of fertilizers on soil microbial communities | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/3/1198 |
| 2 | Forest Fertilization Research in Finland: A Literature Review | Saarsalmi and Mälkönen | 2010 | Finnland | English | Narrative review | Summary of results from fertilization research in Scots pine and Norway spruce stands growing in Finland | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02827580152699358?casa_token=BK0D_DUqKcMAAAAA:bCHHRuATa4s3sndwtVVlJ8cXoeDEl-26BbWyw6g_c-2DcZOG8wSu-WbHlmd8cU-ZUOYTqzHXHQMS |
| 3 | Forest fertilization: Trends in knowledge and practice compared to agriculture | Smethurst | 2010 | World | English | Narrative review | Overview of fertilizer usage in forestry | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11104-010-0316-3 |
| 4 | Response of Coniferous Forest Ecosystems on Mineral Soils to Nutrient Additions: A Review of Swedish Experiences | Nohrstedt | 2010 | Sweden | English | Narrative review | - | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02827580152699385?casa_token=5FsBB12BkWQAAAAA:eLKvArVjnuDpe9qdmcClfwBuAuwzMPkwdQpBmRLHdalkBxFVtidjyaNDjq4yCBJZRXv5v5UASzuP |
| 5 | Fertilization Experiments on Forest Mineral Soils: A Review of the Norwegian Results | Nilsen | 2010 | Norway | English | Narrative review | - | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02827580152699376?casa_token=_3_u9sQeUNwAAAAA:szbl2JJgEVHYqrVSRpqn7vzbPGnQkVK3TwLKwkBkZ5c2QLjPTgirPdyZLeM6WG9zEOrYQ7QKIGTD |