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Growth and yield of 5 years old teak and flueggea in single and mixed species forestry systems in the Solomon Islands

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Abstract

Mixed species plantings of teak (Tectona grandis) and flueggea (Flueggea flexuosa) were introduced as a method for overcoming the reluctance of local growers to thin their teak. Flueggea is a well-used local species and removal of the flueggea for personal use would effectively thin the entire stand over time. Stocking rates and tree species composition are two important factors affecting tree growth and yield when a mixed species plantation is established. This study aimed to investigate the effects of stocking rates on early teak growth in a mixed species system in a humid tropical region of Western Province, Solomon Islands. The experimental design included: teak planted as a monoculture at standard stocking of 833 stems per hectare (sph) (Treatment 1); teak planted in rows alternating with 2 rows of flueggea at 833 sph; 625 sph; and 416 sph (Treatments 2,3 and 4 respectively); and teak planted in alternating rows with a single row of flueggea at 833 sph (Treatment 5). Teak basal area was optimum at the lowest stocking rates of 412 and 625 sph for both species. However, teak yield (volume per hectare) was greater in the higher stocking rate treatments. Teak basal area mean annual increment (BA MAI) decreased in higher stocking rates between the age of 4 and 5 years indicating the onset of suppression and the need for progressive thinning. Under correct silvicultural maintenance, the 833 sph planting density offers the benefits of higher stocking and lower maintenance. As the present investigation was confined to the establishment phase for teak, more studies are needed to understand the system development to maturity.

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Acknowledgements

The research reported here was undertaken through a series of projects supported by the Australian Centre for international Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Canberra, Australia and the Solomon Island Government Ministry of Forestry Research. V. W. Vigulu was supported in this work through a John Allwright Fellowship grant from ACIAR. Kolombangara Forest Products Limited provided staff and transportation and made research sites available for the project. The staff of Munda and Poitete Forestry Offices assisted in the establishment of, and data collection from, the sites. We would like to thank Griffith University for their technical help and support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Solomon Islands Government Ministry of Forestry Research, Geology Area, Lengakiki, West Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

    Vaeno Vigulu

  2. Environmental Futures Research Institute, School of Natural Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Brisbane, Australia

    Vaeno Vigulu, Timothy J. Blumfield, Frédérique Reverchon, Shahla Hosseini Bai & Zhihong Xu

  3. Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Instituto de Ecología A.C., Pátzcuaro, Mexico

    Frédérique Reverchon

  4. Genecology, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Maroochydore, Australia

    Shahla Hosseini Bai

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  1. Vaeno Vigulu
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  2. Timothy J. Blumfield
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  3. Frédérique Reverchon
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  4. Shahla Hosseini Bai
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Correspondence to Shahla Hosseini Bai.

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Vigulu, V., Blumfield, T.J., Reverchon, F. et al. Growth and yield of 5 years old teak and flueggea in single and mixed species forestry systems in the Solomon Islands. New Forests 50, 629–642 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-018-9684-y

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