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Eucalyptus and Acacia tree growth over entire rotation in single- and mixed-species plantations across five sites in Brazil and Congo
- Source :
- Forest Ecology and Management, Forest Ecology and Management, Elsevier, 2013, 301 (SI), pp.89-101. ⟨10.1016/j.foreco.2012.09.019⟩
- Publication Year :
- 2013
- Publisher :
- HAL CCSD, 2013.
-
Abstract
- International audience; The association of N-2-fixing species (NFS) could be an attractive option for achieving a sustainable increase of Eucalyptus plantations (EP) productivity through a positive balance between facilitative effects and competition between species. A randomised block design was replicated at four sites (Cenibra, USP, Suzano and IP) in Southern Brazil and at one site in Congo. The development of mono-specific stands of Acacia mangium (100A) and Eucalyptus grandis or urophylla x grandis (100E), was compared with N fertilisation treatment (100E + N) and with mixed-species plantations in a 1:1 ratio (50A:50E), and in an additive series with varying densities of acacia for the same density of eucalypt (25A:100E, 50A:100E, 100A:100E). The objectives were to assess the effect of mixtures on tree growth and stand production, and the behaviour of the two species in contrasting soil and climatic conditions. Tree growth was monitored over stand rotation and the biomass of aboveground tree components estimated at mid-rotation and at harvesting age. Eucalyptus height was 13% higher in Brazil than in Congo. Favourable ecological conditions in Congo and Cenibra led to 50% higher Acacia tree height than at the other sites. A depressive effect of Eucalyptus neighbour trees on Acacia height and circumference growth, lower in Congo than in Brazil, was observed in the mixtures from age 1-2 years onwards. Depressive effects of acacia on eucalypt height and circumference growth were low in USP, Suzano and IP, high in Cenibra, and not observed in Congo, in 50A:50E and 25A:100E. A positive though insignificant response to N fertilisation was only found in USP and Congo. Complementarity for light and soil resource capture between Eucalyptus and Acacia trees resulted in mean annual increments in total stand stemwood biomass (MAI) that were 7-15%, 6-12%, and 40% higher in the additive series than for 100E in Cenibra, LISP and Congo, respectively at mid-rotation. Whilst lasting complementarity and facilitation in Congo led to 17-34% higher MAI in mixtures than for 100E at harvesting age, MAIs were not significantly higher in mixtures than for 100E in Brazil. Mixed-species plantations of Eucalyptus and A. mangium might enhance aboveground stand production on poor nutrient soils in warm and humid tropical climates with low water limitations
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
F08 - Systèmes et modes de culture
Humid subtropical climate
F62 - Physiologie végétale - Croissance et développement
Complementarity
Facteur climatique
01 natural sciences
Nutrient
Acacia mangium
media_common
Biomass (ecology)
Eucalyptus
biology
Wood production
Forestry
04 agricultural and veterinary sciences
Plantation forestière
Facteur édaphique
Rendement des cultures
Facilitation
F40 - Écologie végétale
Interaction
media_common.quotation_subject
Acacia
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Competition (biology)
Culture en mélange
Botany
[SDV.BV]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Vegetal Biology
Croissance
Nature and Landscape Conservation
Competition
Mixed-species plantations
15. Life on land
biology.organism_classification
K10 - Production forestière
Agronomy
040103 agronomy & agriculture
0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
Système de culture
010606 plant biology & botany
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03781127
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Forest Ecology and Management, Forest Ecology and Management, Elsevier, 2013, 301 (SI), pp.89-101. ⟨10.1016/j.foreco.2012.09.019⟩
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....07e2931b7019bf2c677b9bd8829b6051