Early Effects of Four Fast-Growing Tree Species and Their Planting Density on Ground Vegetation in Imperata grasslands

Early Effects of Four Fast-Growing Tree Species and Their Planting Density on Ground Vegetation in Imperata grasslands

background

This study aims to test the success of fast-growing exotics tree species and alternative planting densities on the development of ground vegetation. The study was conducted in Riam Kiwa, South Kalimantan, Indonesia in Imperata grasslands. The four fast-growing exotic tree species used in the study were Acacia mangium, Acacia crassicarpa, Gmelina arborea, and Paraserianthes falcataria.

Goals & Methods

The authors developed two hypothesis to test: 1) Fast-growing tree species differ in their early effects on ground vegetation development in tree plantations in Imperata grasslands and 2) Increasing planting density retards ground vegetation development in fast-growing tree plantations in Imperata grasslands. The study relied on two separate trials, on of which was a species trial with a spacing of 333 m and the other was a spacing trial with progressively decreasing planting density.

Conclusions & Takeaways

The study results suggest that fast growing tree species differ in their effects on suppressing ground vegetation development in tree plantatyions in Imperata grasslands. The rank of species is: Gmelina arborea (strongest), Acacia mangium, Acacia crassicarpa, and Paraserianthes falcataria (weakest). Increasing planting density affects the ground vegetation development. A linear relationship was found between increasing distance between planted trees and grass biomass for all tested species.

 

 

Reference: 

Otsamo A. Early effects of four fast-growing tree species and their planting density on ground vegetation in Imperata grasslands. New Forests. 2002;23(1):1 - 17. doi:10.1023/A:1015655923484.

Affiliation: 

  • Stora Enso Forest Consulting Oy Ltd., Kuparintie, Finland