Comparison of wood and foliage production of four Eucalyptus species using management of short rotation coppice in the Koushkak reaserch station

Abstract

Eucalyptus species are one of the most suitable tree species in terms of wood production for pulp and paper industry and leaves for pharmaceutical industry. This study aims to determine the wood and foliage production in coppiced Eucalyptus species. This study carried out on four Eucalypts species including Eucalyptus camaldulensis 9616, E. melliodora, E. stricklandii and E. Salubris with 4 treatments (1, 2, 3 shoots per stumps and control) and were planted at 1.5× 2 m spacing as statistical split plot design with 3 replications at Shooshtar Research Station, Khuzistan province. At the end of first year, seedlings were cut 10 cm above the ground and coppice shoots treatment was applied. Survival percentages, diameter at breasts height (dbh), and height were measured yearly during dormancy on all trees. After four years of growth, all shoots were cut and stems and branches were weighed separately, and finally the biomass was recorded. The growth results of four years after the shoot treatment showed that the highest average wood yield was in the E. camaldulensis species and in the control and 3-shoot treatments with 45.4 and 38.9 tons per hectare per year, respectively. The average foliage biomass under different shoot treatments showed that in the 3-shoot treatment of E. camaldulensis species with 10.3 ton/ha/yr. had the highest value and was placed in the first group. Also, total of wood and foliage yield of E. camaldulensis in control and 3-shoot treatments with 50.8 and 49.9 tons per hectare per year respectively, were placed in the first group.

Keywords

• coppice
• eucalyptus
• growth characteristics
• shoots management
• short rotation harvesting