%0 Research Notes
%T The profitability of wood ash-fertilizing of drained peatland Scots pine stands
%A Lauhanen, Risto
%A Moilanen, Mikko
%A Silfverberg, Klaus
%A Takamaa, Heikki
%A Issakainen, Jorma
%D 1997
%J Suo - Mires and peat
%V 48
%N 3
%U http://suo.fi/article/9767
%X The profitability of wood ash-fertilizing (5-16 t ha-1) of four drained peatland Scots pine stands in central Finland was investigated. The profitability of forest drainage alone and forest drainage plus ash-fertilization was compared. After 44-56 years, the wood ash-fertilization had increased mean productivity by 3.1-12.1 m3 ha-1 a-1. Using an interest rate of 3 % and without subsidies, the net present value of the stands was 2500-20300 FIM ha-1 higher as a result of the ash-fertilization than the value given by forest drainage alone. The real internal rate of return due to ash-fertilization without subsidies was 3.7-9.3 %. The interest rate, the fertilization dose and related costs, and the stumpage prices affected profitability. The state forest improvement subsidies further increased the profitablity of ash-fertilization.
Key words: forest fertilization, internal rate of return, net present value, Scots pine, stem volume, wood ash