Effects of Nutrient Addition, Mulching and Planting-Hole Size on Early Performance of Dryobalanops aromatica and Shorea parvifolia Planted in Secondary Forest in Sarawak, Malaysia
background
In this study, three methods were tested for their ability to improve growth of dipterocarp seedlings planted in west Sarawak, Malaysia.
Research Goals & Methods
The two species, Dryobalanops aromatica and Shorea parvifolia, were used for enrichment planting in two sites classified as nutrient-poor, post-shifting cultivation, degraded secondary forests. Vegetation was slashed in 2m wide lines where the seedlings were planted; weeding was conducted around the planted seedlings every six months.
Conclusions & Takeaways
Total mortality was 4.2% for D. aromatica and 5.5% for S. parvifolia. The authors assert that this high survival rate is rare for dipterocarp plantation experiments. The effect of mulching was found to vary based on site and species, while planting hole size did not significantly affect seedling growth. Nutrient addition had the strongest effect on seedling growth and significantly increased seedling diameter growth rates by 50%, compared with control seedlings
Reference:
. Effects of nutrient addition, mulching and planting-hole size on early performance of Dryobalanops aromatica and Shorea parvifolia planted in secondary forest in Sarawak, Malaysia. Forest Ecology and Management. 2003;180:261–271. doi:10.1016/s0378-1127(02)00562-5.
Affiliation:
- Forestry Department Headquarters, Wisma Sumber Alam, Kuching, Malaysia
- Center for Tropical Forest Science-Arnold Arboretum Asia Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA