• Morgan, Ronald H.
  University of Vermont Graduate School
  

In May 1970, 960 balsam fir transplants were outplanted at the Wolcott Research Forest, Wolcott, Vermont. This planting was designed to evaluate the effects of cultural practices on the physical and nutritional; qualities of balsam fir as white-tailed deer food.

The cultural treatments evaluated were applications of granular fertilizer NPK (15-15-15) and the herbicide simazine in the granular form (4%). Four replications were made of the following treatments: 1. control, 2. fertilizer, 3. herbicide, 4. fertilizer plus herbicide. Replications were made to have statistical measurement of the differences found between treatment groups.

Sampling and analyses were performed on the young firs in September 1970. Analyses consisted of evaluation of the cell wall constituents, crude protein content, ash and its components and physical characteristics.

Protein content of the materials treated with simazine was found to be about double that of the control and fertilizer only treatment groups. Increases in tissue production, succulence and ash content were also found for treatment groups involving simazine. Darker green foliage was produced by the herbicide treatment and the fertilizer plus herbicide treatment.