Species-Site Matching and Growth Prediction of Three Forest Plantation Species at Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia
Sabah Softwoods Berhad venture into forest plantation was initiated in 1974. The trees species introduced were promising, but differences in yield and growth rate within its area continually repeated. Often, the yields were not within the expectation even when their genetic differences were narro...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
2009
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/7138/1/FH_2009_5a.pdf http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/7138/ |
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| Summary: | Sabah Softwoods Berhad venture into forest plantation was initiated in 1974. The
trees species introduced were promising, but differences in yield and growth rate
within its area continually repeated. Often, the yields were not within the
expectation even when their genetic differences were narrowed down
silviculturaly. To overcome such problems, study on species-site matching of
Gmelina arborea, Paraserianthes falcataria and Acacia mangium were carried out
with the aim of minimizing the variability in growth, thus maximizing yield.
The effect of soil series (Paliu, Kumansi, Tanjong Lipat and Kapilit) and climate
on tree species growth variables was a priority in the species-site matching and site
suitability study. Correlation and regression analysis of growth with climate, site
assessment with respect to tree species height growth (site index), formulation of
growth and yield equation of each tree species, and the financial analysis to
determine the prospect of species-site matching operations prior to forest tree
plantation establishment were done in answering the growth variability, in
improving silviculture and management of forest plantation, in ensuring future
sustainability of its resources, and to secure its forest ecosystem in perpetuity The results revealed that temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, sunshine hours,
wind run, degree of wetness, rain index, humidity coefficient, and dryness index
coefficient of variations were less than 25%. Such findings related that the climate
was not extreme. The analysis of soil series data revealed significant differences
for the percentages of sand, clay, porosity, moisture content, and cation-exchange
capacity. Paliu series was best for Gmelina arborea (22.52 m3ha-1yr-1) and
Paraserianthes falcataria (34.18 m3ha-1yr-1). This soil series was very sandy and
porous with moderate cation exchange capacity and moisture content. Acacia
mangium growth showed no differences between the soil series. It grew equally
well on any of the soil series in the area and its mean annual increment ranged
between 19.06 m3ha-1yr-1 and 26.42 m3ha-1yr-1. The yields of tree species on their
preferred soils were also highly correlated with daily sunshine hours. The climatic
variables daily sunshine hours, temperature, rainfall, and raindays explained about
65 to 76% of the variations in their yields (m3ha-1) depending on tree species. The
site assessment and classification based on site index equation derived for each tree
species revealed that Gmelina arborea was site-specific species and grew best only
in areas with site index class I. Gmelina arborea and Paraserianthes falcataria
showed wider differences in height between its site index classes when compared
with Acacia mangium as the former trees species varied significantly in growth
rate between the soil series.
Growth and and yield equations using height of dominant tree and diameter at
breast height were derived for Gmelina arborea (R2 = 0.8947), Paraserianthes
falcataria (R2 = 0.8961) and Acacia mangium (R2 = 0.7915).Financial analysis revealed carrying out of species-site matching operation prior to
forest trees plantation is financially profitable (IRR = 22.09%). The Net Present
Value remains positive and Benefit / Cost ratio is more than 1 at 10% and 15%
discounted rate.
Conclusively, the results of this study provided tools for species-site matching,
forecasting growth, decision making, and planning of future planting of Acacia
mangium, Gmelina arborea, and Paraserianthes falcataria. |
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