I'm not aware of documented sets of research, or long-term measurements, that indicate your scenario would be likely for any broad range of reasonably productive forest sites in the Pacific Northwest. There are some interesting ideas floating around that ask whether such might be possible IF, IF, certain limited sets of circumstances and/or intensive management regimes were repeated on the same sites for several "rotations" of trees. But I know of no current, generaly-imposed forest management regimes here in the PNW that would , based on currently documented research, be likely to meet the purported criteria that would lead to your "depletion" scenario. Given the range of forest/soil/climate/geology "types" in the PNW, any generalization based on limited experience with a site or two is, in my opinion, very speculative. J. Boyle College of Forestry Oregon State U I'd like to ask a few questions of all participants. Is everyone aware of the research done here in the Northwest that seems to imply that long term cycles of tree farming may deplete the soil microflora and microfauna to such an extent that the ability to grow trees, much less tree crops is then in question? I would ask only that replies not use the discount rate as a reason to ... discount this possibility. -- Shelley Cimon - Oregon Hanford Advisory Board | Tel: (503) 963-0853 Norm Cimon - Forestry & Range Sciences Lab | Fax: (503) 963-0853 1208 First Street, La Grande, Oregon 97850 Received: by ccmail from ccmbox1.ucs.orst.edu
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