Canadian Forest Service Publications

Urea fertilization of natural forest : effects on water quality. 1978. Gonzalez, A.; Plamondon, A.P. For. Ecol. Manage. 1(3): 213-221.

Year: 1978

Issued by: Laurentian Forestry Centre

Catalog ID: 16348

Language: English

Availability: PDF (request by e-mail)

Mark record

Abstract

Urea at the rate of 150 kg N/ha was applied by helicopter to a 120 ha watershed covered with a natural stand of balsam fir (Abies balsamea Mill.), white spruce (Picea glauca Moench.) and paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.), 80 km from Quebec City. Two-thirds of the area was treated in June, and the remainder in September, the control area was an adjacent comparable watershed. Abundant rainfall coincided with the application. In stream water, urea was identified only at trace levels during the 48 hours following fertilization. Ammonium concentrations and conductivity increased significantly during the 10-15 days following application. Small changes were observed concerning other parameters studied. Urea fertilization did not considerably alter water quality.