Nursery and Establishment Techniques as Factors in Productivity of Man-made Forests in Southern Africa

BACKGROUND

Commercial plantations in Southern Africa are in highly productive areas resulting in competition for space between agriculture and forestry. Hence there is need to maximize on the available area. This includes examining nursery practices and field establishment which influence tree survival and growth in plantations. Mycorrhizal inoculations combined with fertilizer applications have been introduced, to produce plants with a high root regeneration potential. Burning to remove slash has also been reduced. Other site preparation techniques have been introduced such as ripping and pre- plant spray with glyphosate resulting in a decline in the cost of establishment.

CONCLUSIONS AND TAKEAWAYS

Increase in management costs and oversupply of markets has made silviculturists to alter some forest management practices in Southern Africa. The authors state that these changes have brought efficiency in silvicultural operations. However, these changes have not yet brought change in the growth of stands. Growth has been brought by improvement in site selection and use of improved seeds.