Research on industrial forest plantation establishment with Paraserianthes falcataria (L.) Nielsen and Gmelina arborea Roxb for wood supply

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1 Page 1 of 6 Research on industrial forest plantation establishment with Paraserianthes falcataria (L.) Nielsen and Gmelina arborea Roxb for wood supply I. Introduction Nguyen Ba Chat, Vu Duc Nang Nguyen Sy Duong Nguyen Thanh Dam FSIV Selection of a collection of planted forest tree species and development of technical systems for forest plantation establishment serving economic and technical objectives have been and are being urgent problems. More than half a century has past many generations of silviculturists have made great effort in research, selection and planting of a number of forest tree species in many ecological zones in Vietnam. Several species have been planted in hundreds of thousand hectares such as Acacia auriculiformis, A. mangium, eucalypts and pines. Others have also been planted in thousands of hectares such as Manglietia glauca, Pinus massoniana, Styrax tonkinensis, Aleurites montana, Rhizophora apiculata Melaleuca leucadendra, Tectona grandis, Casuarina equisetifolia, Chukrasia tabularis, Dipterocarpus oleosum. Some species such as Canarium album, Talauma gioi, Hopea odorata, Endospermum sinensis, Aglaia sp, Ormosia balansea, Cinnamomum Cassia, Illicium verum that have been studied in no less than 10 years, but many things still remain. Gmelina arborea is a fast growing species and its research and planting are carried out in South East Asian countries. Paraserianthes falcataria has its origin in tropical region. It is a fastgrowing tree species, adaptable to many ecological zones and its wood is used in wood processing industry. Research on developing a system of silvicultural techniques to expand these two species is necessary. II. Research methodology 2.1. Research content Distribution, taxonomy, growth, ecology, regeneration, coppicing, phenology of these two species Research methodology Application of empirical ecology method. Field survey and study and laying out experiments in the field. Evaluation of results based on quatitative indices. Concrete research methods: 1. Survey and evaluation. Laying out sampling plots for data collection in areas planted with these two species. Measurement made of the indices: D 1.3, H, Dt (crown diameter), H below branches. Collection of data on climate, soil, regeneration layer under the canopy of forest plantation. Evaluation of the adaptability of these two species at the sites with the experiments laid-out or in real situation. 2. Research on biological characteristics: - Phenology: flowering, fruiting seasons, seed producing capability, seed quality. - Performance of planted trees in the experiments: establishing sample plots with experimental formulae for annual data collection. 3. Research on silvicultural techniques - Forecast on regions of suitable climatic conditions for the expansion of these two species (using SCIRO program). - Seedlings production: seedling standard, age, sowing season, composition of pot mixture, propagation by cuttings. - Creation of plantation: + Planting density: 1,100 trees/ ha; 1,600 trees/ ha + Planting system: pure plantation and agroforestry practice with mixed rice and maize. + Soil cultivation technique: planting hole size: 30 x 30 x 30cm; 40 x 40 x 40cm. + Branch pruning Experiments were laid out in complete randomised blocks or block for separate factor with

2 Page 2 of 6 each species. 4. Data collection and processing - Data were collected once every 15 days in the nursery. On the hill: Data were collected annually from Dec. 20 th to Dec. 30 th. Data processing: making use of various statistical method. III. Research results: A. Paraserianthes falcataria 1. research and production in various countries with P. falcataria 1.1. Morphology P. falcataria is from medium to large size tree species with height upto 40 m, bole under branch is 20m in height, diameter is upto 100cm. Bark is pale white, grey, greyish green, smooth or with small knobs and sparse longitudinal fine cracks, horizontal marks are left on the trunk. Leaf bipinnately compound, 35 40cm long with 8 15 pairs of secondary petioles. Each petiole has leaflets oblong, 3 6 mm wide. Inflorescence terminal; petals: pale yellow. 2 months after flowering fruit begins to ripe. Fruit two valves seed horizontal, 7 15 seed in a fruit. Trees produce flowers and fruits at 3 4 years of age. Seed with hard coat, oblong in shape. 42,000 seed weigh a kilogram 1000 seed weigh 16 26g. 1.2.Origin of P. falcataria was in Sumatra Java, Bali, Flores, Moluccas, New guinea, Solomon, Islands, Australia. It is distributed from 10 0 to 30 0 N latitude, from sea level to 1600m a.s.l. It is now successfully planted in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia (Java, Kalimantan), Malaysia (Peninsular, Sabah, Sarawak), the Philippines, Srilanka, Cameroon, Ivory coast, Malawi, Mexico, USA (Hawaii), Samoa. 1.3 Ecology * Climatic conditions: - Elevation of the distribution range m - Mean annual rainfall: mm. - Rainy regime: Not seasonal. - Dry spell: 0 2 months. - Average temperature: C - Average temperature in hottest month: C. - Average temperature in coldest month: C. * Soil conditions for expansion of P. falcataria - Soil texture: medium - Water drainage: good - Soil type: neutral, slightly acidic. * Usage: wood is used for pulp, veneer, wood chips, match and pressed board. Bark is used for tannin; leaves are used for domestic animal and poultry feeding. P. falcataria is used for forest planting on bare land and deforested areas, improvement of soil under Imperata cylindrica and giving shade to tea, coffee and cacao. 2. Silvicultural problems 2.1. Natural regeneration P. falcataria is a light demanding species and capable of regeneration only in forest openings. 7 8 year- old P. falcataria plantation has the seed- fall of 12,000 14,000 seed/ ha. This quantity of seed is enough for regeneration on logged-over area. Flowering is in late April and fruit is ripe in late June. Seed is treated with water at C. A suitable dose of P fertilizer, NPK ( ) or NPK ( ) is suitable for seedling production, seedling quality is ensured. Pot mixture: loose, P is used not exceeding 0.5g/ seedling 2.2. Planting area and soil cultivation technique. Deep soil layer, generated on mica schist, sedimentary deposit, ph 4 7, good water drainage, shallow ground water table, humus content > 2%, < 10 0 slope and hill foot area. Total land ploughing, vegetation is totally removed, big- sized planting holes exert good effect on growth of

3 Page 3 of 6 P. falcataria. Planting spacing 3 x 3m gives D 1.3 and H growth better than any other spacing. Trial plantings and fertilizer application show that planting density of 1100 trees/ ha with P fertilizer application of about 100 kg/ ha before planting is effective. Mixed planting system is used in soil improvement or maintenance of the yield of a species (E. saligna) and is rather popular in agroforestry system, soil and environment improvement. In general, pure planting is practised for production of wood as raw material. P. falcataria planted for pulp production with fertilizer application, 8 10 years rotation needs no thinning. But for production of large timber, branch pruning, shaping the stem and thinning at 4 and 10 years of age are necessary. P. falcataria grows very fast and on suitable site the trees attain 7 m in height 1 year after planting. At 6 years of age, mean tree height is 25.5m, D 1.3 = 17cm; at 9 years of age tree height attains ;D 1.3 = 40.5cm; at 12 years of age H = 38m, D 1.3 = 54cm; at 15 years of age H= 39m, D 1.3 = 63.5cm. High yield, management rotation 8 12 years, mean annual increment 25 40m 3 / ha. On good soil in Indonesia mean annual increment attains 50 55m 3 /ha. 3. Biological characteristics and adaptability of P. falcataria in Vietnam. Using climatic mapping program of Booth (1993) one can draw the map on climatic requirements of P. falcataria in Vietnam. The results show that the adaptability range of P. falcataria in Vietnam is rather wide. Based on the growth in three years of P. falcataria, Hoang Xuan Ty had remarks: P. falcataria is suitable to be planted in Cau Hai- Phu Tho, Luong Son Hoa Binh, Ban Hin Son La. P. falcataria trees planted previously in these regions grew rather fast, in the first 5 7 years mean diameter increment attained over 1.5cm/ yr; height increment also attained over 1.7m/ year. At some places the trees already produced flowers, fruit and seed. Seed is capable of germinate and seedlings grow normally. 4. Planting technique Seed of P. falcataria has hard coat and can be stored in cold condition. After two years in storage the germination attains 83 85%. Immersing seed in boiling water and then having the water cool down, the seed will germinate hours later. Fertilizer at the rate of 0.5% the weight of pot mixture exerts good effect on growth of P. falcataria. For the seedlings to be planted in April, seed sowing is done in Jan- Feb. standard of seedlings is ensured. For seedlings to be planted in July, seed sowing is done in early June, 60day- old seedlings meet the standard. Spring season Autumn season Ages of seedlings (days) Height of seedlings (cm) D at the base (mm) Experimental planting + Soil cultivation technique: Digging of planting holes: 30 x30x30cm, 40 x 40 x40cm, 30 x 30 x20cm. In the first 6 months height growth is affected by size of planting hole. After 30 months of age there is a variation in both height and diameter. Difference in hole size such as 40 x 40x 40 and 30x 30 x 30cm results in variation in height and diameter values but the variation is not big although the values of D and H are all higher in bigger hole size. At 42 months of age there is a variation in height growth but bigger hole costs 30% higher wheras growth is only 20% higher. The above results show that hole size 30 x30 x30cm as made in Cau Hai Phu Tho is suitable. + Fertilizers: Trials with different fertilizers at different rates show that application of NPK with 18- month old P. falcataria results in 126% increase in diameter growth; with micro-biotic fertilizer the increase is 114% as compared with control. Preliminary results from Experimental plots in Cau Hai show that application of P fertilizer at the rate of 100g/ planting hole before planting gives better results on tree growth than other fertilizers. + Mixed planting with agricultural crops. Mixed planting of P. falcataria with maize results in increase of diameter and height growths of 158% and 149% respectively while mixed planting with cassava diameter and height growths of P. falcataria all decrease as compared with control. + Topographical conditions. Topographical conditions exert obvious effect on growth of P. falcataria. To obtain desired productivity, land must be chosen as meeting the requirements of this species.

4 Page 4 of 6 5. Conclusions a. Seed imported by the research subject from the Philippines and seed from other seed sources have been sown and trial plantings were established in Hoa Binh, Phu Tho Trees grew normally but with rather obvious differentiation in diameter and height growth. b. In Vietnam, 4 5 years after planting, P. falcataria trees already produce flowers flowering season is March April. c. 3 month old seedlings are rather suitable for planting in the experimental regions. In abandoned slash-and burn cultivation area, planting holes 30 x 30x 30cm prove suitable to P. falcataria in initial stage. d. Mixed planting of P. falcataria with maize is effective. e. Planting site must not exceed 10 0 in slopeness. Soil layer requires over 30 40cm in depth. Neutral soil is more suitable than acidic soil. Land previously planted with bamboo, styrax tonkinesis, eucalypts exerts bad effect on P. falcataria growth. B. Gmelina arborea Roxb 1. Documents on G. arborea research and production. 1.1.Biological characteristics of G. arborea. * Morphological characteristics: medium size tree species, up to 30 m in height in suitable site, branches numerous, large crown. Bark pale yellow when young and pale grey when mature, peels in patches. Leaf simple, cm long, 5 18 cm wide. Veins 3-5, 4 6 pairs of venules. Petiole cm. Inflorescence in bunches, petals yellow Leaf shedding from Jan to March. Flowers and young leaves occur at the same time after the shedding of leaves of previous year. Ripe fruit occur from April to June, July. * Geographical distribution G. arborea is naturally distributed in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Srilanka, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Yuman, Quangse (China). This species is distributed in deciduous and semi- deciduous forest and is sometimes found in evergreen or dipterocarp forest. On Hymalaya range it can be found at 1200m asl. In Srilanka it is found in moist forest at 1,500m. asl. * Environmental conditions: - Elevation 1 1,200m. - Annual rainfall: mm - Rainy regime: seasonal, all the year round. - Dry months: 3 5 months - Mean temperature: C - Average temperature in hottest month: C - Average temperature in coldest month: C - Absolute low temperature >-5 0 C Site conditions: G. arborea is very sensitive to site conditions (soil moisture, water drainage, soil nutrients). 1.2.Silviculture G. arborea is rarely found in pure population although its grows well in pure plantation and is convenient for forest planting for wood supply. It is capable of coppicing in area with enough sun light and is suitable for coppice plantation management. 1 kg of fresh seed has 1,400 seed and 1kg of dry seed has 2,500 2,600 seed. 1 kg of clean fruit yields has 60 g seed. Germinating rate of fresh seed is 90%. 3 7 year- old stand already produces seed. In India, Thailand and Vietnam flowering usually takes place in March, fruit is ripe in June July annually. * Technique of seedling production Application of N, P and watering is very effective for growth of seedlings in case the pot mixture is loose, aerated, sand ratio is suitable to the depth of soil layer covering the seed. * Selection of planting area: G. arborea is suitable to sandy soil, good water drainage. - Porous soil: light, medium texture - Water: free from water- logging - Soil reaction: acidic, neutral

5 Page 5 of 6 - Soil type: alluvial, feralite, red stone, granite, sub- tropical land. Area to be planted with G. arborea must have deep soil layer, good water drainage Planting G. arborea is highly light demanding. Vegetation treatment must make the planting site clear. Where the soil is poor in nutrients, application of P fertilizer before planting is obviously effective. Planting is done with seedlings and stumps containing shoot 5cm high and root 15cm long, planting time May July. When direct sowing is done in forest establishment, care must be taken of tending. Initial planting density depends on the purpose of planting. For wood-chip and pulp raw material, spacing must be 1.2 x 1.2 m, 1.8 x 1.8m. For production of sawn wood 3 x 3m spacing is better. Common density is 1,100 trees/ ha. 2. Results of research on G. arborea forest planting 2.1.Planting regions Regions where G. arborea can be planted lie in its natural distribution range with required climatic conditions as follows: - Average annual rainfall: 1,100 2,400mm - Duration of dry season: 3 4 months - Average temperature of the hottest month: C - Average temperature of the coldest month: C - Average annual temperature: C 2.2.Seedlings production After collection and cleaning of the seed coat, the seed is kept for some time to remove the wetness before sowing in beds. If the seed is dried up, immersing it in C water is necessary. Propagation of G. arborea by cuttings is successful if the cuttings are dipped in 5 seconds in IBA + NAA at concentration 250ppm ppm. Seedlings standard Age (month) H (cm) Seedlings Dbase (cm) Ramets from cuttings Stumps Planting system There is a tendency of pure plantation establishment. G. arborea is also planted in agroforestry system. Mixed planting of G. arborea with rice and maize is obviously successful. 2.4.Effect of pruning With G. arborea, pruning brings about good result in the bole length under branch, beneficial for establishment of industrial plantation. Pruning carried out in three years brings about % increase in D, H (below branches) increments as compared with control. 3. Conclusions - Research on G. arborea planting receives much attention in many countries for veneer and pulp supply. G. arborea is adaptable to many regions in Vietnam. G. arborea is found to be naturally distributed in Vietnam and provides a seed source to expand the veneer raw material source. - Seed of G. arborea is large, germination rate is not high. Propagation by cuttings immersed in 5 seconds in IBA + NAA at concentration 250ppm+ 250ppm gives good results. - In Hoa Binh G. arborea planted mixing with maize and rice in the first two years grew well. - Pruning in 2 3 years resulted in increase in diameter, height and height under branch. Main references

6 Page 6 of 6 1. Nguyen Ba Chat, Possibility of G. arborea planting in Vietnam. Forestry review 4 5/ Wong W.C, Khoo K.C Gmelia arborea, FRIM reports No Lauridsen, Gmelina arborea International provenance trials study tour and seed collection in India> Forest genetic sources information, N Durant C.L, Gmelina arborea in Malyasia, Malaysian forester No Nguyen Ba Chat. Possibility of Paraserianthes falcataria planting in Vietnam. Forest Science Information, Nitrogen Fixing Tree Association, Paraserianthes falcataria Southeast Asia s growth champion, USA: NFTA, Back to list of reports