Early Growth Performance of Native and Introduced Fast Growing Tree Species in Wet to Sub-Humid Climates of the Southern Region of Costa Rica

background

The authors present information on the growth of seven-year-old native tree species planted in abandoned pasture with low fertility acidic soils in the southern pacific region of Costa Rica.

Research Goals & Methods

The study evalutes trees in four ecoregions of varying elevation and precipitation.

Conclusions & Takeaways

The exotic Gmelina arborea had the highest height growth in three of the four ecoregions, but also exhibited the greatest difference in maximum and minimum yield. Vochysia guatemalensis was more stable and had the highest growth of the native species, but still was only 46% of the growth of G. arborea and 60% of Pinus Caribaea. P. caribaea had high growth except in the high-moisture conditions of one eco-region. Calophyllum brasiliense and Schizolobium parabyba had high mortality rates. The other native species (Vochysia ferruginea, Vochysia guatemalensis, Hieronyma alchorneoides, Terminalia amazonia) had good potential for reforestation. In areas with high moisture, the difference between species was less significant, whereas in the areas with more dry seasons and lower rainfall, the exotic species greatly outperformed the native species.