Growth performance, biomass accumulation, and energy production in age series of clonal teak plantation

Abstract

Clonal teak plantation has been extensively developed in Java and providing a purposeful contribution to improve the productivity of the state forests. It also plays a crucial role in climate change mitigation and serves as a primary source of renewable energy. However, information about its stand dynamics has been rarely documented. This study investigated the growth, biomass, carbon stock, and energy storage along an age series of clonal teak plantation. The study site was located in the Kendal Forest Management Unit. Data were collected from 14 different compartments as the priority sites of clonal teak establishment. Every compartment had similar site quality but different in age stand. Results demonstrated that the incremental rate of diameter and height was higher during the initial period between 1 and 3 years. The mean volume increased along with age and reached its maximum value at 14 years (164.54 m3 ha−1). Biomass distribution in each tree component varied from 8.75 to 66.72%. More than 80% biomass production was accumulated above ground. Total carbon stock improved from 2.68 Mg ha−1 at 1 year to 54.01 Mg ha−1 at 14 years. Our study noted that the total energy storage in clonal teak plantation increased progressively from 22.71 × 106 MJ ha−1 at 1 year to 377.74 × 106 MJ ha−1 at 14 years. Overall, this study concluded the growth, biomass, carbon, and energy in clonal teak increased progressively with age. Further investigations are still required to understand the stand dynamics of clonal teak at different sites.

Keywords

• Stand dynamics
• state forests
• productivity
• renewable energy
• climate change mitigation