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NEOLAMARCKIA CADAMBA VS OCTOMELES SUMATRANA: IS IT PROMISING

FOREST PLANTATION SPECIES?

Ahmad Zuhaidi Yahya & Hashim, M.N.

Biotechnology Division, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor,

Malaysia

The paper highlights the field performance of two native species Neolamarckia cadamba

(kelempayan/laran) and Octomeles sumatrana (binuang) after being commercially and trial

planted in various part of the country. The species was selected for planting under the Forest

Plantation Development Programme currently undertaken by the Malaysian Timber Industry

Board (LPKM) and the Forest Plantation Development Sdn. Bhd. for a proposed rotation

period of 15 years. To date some commercial and trial plantings were conducted in Kanowit,

Sarawak; Sandakan and Tawau, Sabah; Setul Forest Reserve, Negeri Sembilan and Bukit

Lagong Forest Reserve, within the Forest Research Institute Malaysia. Despite having data

from replicated experimental design and approach, the preliminary results obtained reflect the

potential and ecological requirements of both species for good growth. At 4 years after

planting the achieved mean annual volume increment were 28.97, 23.25, 8.44 and 31.08 m3

ha-1

year-1

, trial planted in different sites and topographic positions in Sandakan, Kanowit,

Setul and Bukit Lagong. The average diameter at breast height (DBH) was 22.4, 19.0, 11.1

and11.9 cm, while the calculated total height was 14.93, 12.45, 8.19 and 9.75 m respectively.

Subsequently, with planted O. sumatrana in Sandakan, the achieved mean annual volume

increment and DBH was 19.84 m3 ha

-1 year

-1; average DBH of 20.5 cm respectively. The

variation in the growth and yield may be concluded due to different silvicultural and

environmental factors including site preparation, stand density, soil types and topographical

position. The short term observation further confirmed the site requirements of the species as

being found in natural forests. The importance of site characteristics and the presence of high

moisture regime favourable for the growth of species are also discussed. Overall, selection of

both species would be appropriate for planting in areas of high water or moisture regime or

adjacent to riverine areas.

Keywords: growth and yield; high moisture regime

Introduction

Plantations form part of a continuum of forest lands use from biodiversity reserves

and natural forests harvested on a sustainable basis through to intensively managed single-

species plantations. Any large scale plantations, which are established without careful land

use planning and against the wishes of local communities are potential to attract criticism

(Carrere & Lohman 1996). In all situation, regardless of the species chosen, it was noted that

short rotation forestry requires good silvicultural practices (including careful management of

soils and nutrients) if high yields are to be sustained.

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Considering how species selection has actually being done in major plantation projects may

help us to better understanding the process and avoid the mistakes others have made. The

pulpwood project at Jari, Brazil in the eastern Amazon basin started in the 1970s.

Operational plantings of Gmelina arborea were established without preliminary trials and

were a complete failure. Eucalyptus deglupta was tried next and also failed completely,

followed by Pinus caribaea which was marginal. In the late 1980s selected clones of hybrid

Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla were found to be highly productive at Jari and now

successfully produce pulpwood requirements (McNabb et al. 1994; Jari 1997). In Peninsular

Malaysia several hundred hectares were planted with Eucalyptus spp. including E. deglupta,

E. camaldulensis in the 1980s, but these failed completely as a result of fungal attack, as

might have been predicted from the failure of earlier trials plots (Ng 1996). Acacia mangium

was the main species in the subsequent plantation programme and some 70,000 ha have

produced reasonable wood volumes despite displaying multiple stems and heart rot that

lowers the recovery of sawn timber (Ho & Sim 1994). The species remained as the prime

species in the both states in Sabah and Sarawak for pulpwood production. Based on this

contexts, this paper reviews two of the selected species currently planted under the Forest

Plantation Programme, Ministry of Primary Industry and Commodities (KPPK) and the

existing growth and yield performance of untested materials of both species planted within 5

selected sites in Malaysia (2 sites in Peninsular Malaysia, 2 sites in Sabah and 1 in Sarawak).

Materials and Methods

Trial locations

The four test and planting sites were located from the lowland to uplands Peninsular

Malaysia, states of Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia (Table 1). They represented the site types

available for proposed plantations in Malaysia. The two trials in Sandakan, Sabah and Bukit

Lagong, Peninsular Malaysia were on low lying areas, while in Kanowit, Sarawak and Setul,

Negeri Sembilan on the upper slopes with some soil degradation through loss of topsoil

during the previous land use.

The trials in Sandakan, Setul and Bukit Lagong were planted with three replicates of 49 trees

(7 x 7 m square plots) with 2 replicates. While in Setul and Bukit Lagong were planted with

two replicates of 100 trees. Most of the replicate boundaries at the three sites were

surrounded by external perimeter rows of the species. The trials were blanket slashed twice

per year for the first 3 years (Figure 1).

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Table 1 Details of the four trial sites

Sandakan* Kanowit Setul Bukit Lagong

Latitude (N) 5o 54 ‘ 2

o 33’ 2

o 47’ 3

o 14

’

Longitude (E) 118 o 04 ‘ 111

o 83’ 101

o 55 ‘ 101

o 38

’

Altitude (m) 25-30 100-180 75-250 123

Soil Alluvial soil Loamy sand

and clays

Light reddish

loam

Light reddish

loam

Mean annual rainfall (mm) 2750-2900 270-3000 1900 - 2050 2000-2600

Mean annual temperature (oC) 26-28 26-29 26-32 27-32

Site preparation Manual Mechanical Mechanical Manual

Planting time 8/2006 10/2006 8/2006 5/2010

Fertilizer Once/year

NPK

Twice/year

NPK

Twice/year

NPK

Twice/year

NPK

Replicates 3 3 2 2

No. of trees per plot 49 49 100 100

Spacing (m) 4x4 3X3 3x3 3x3

NB: *The Octomeles sumatrana trial plot is in the same location with Neolamarckia

cadamba in Sandakan

Measurement and assessment

The diameter at breast height (DBH) was measured for all tree individuals in the random

samples of trees within the stands. Diameter measurements of trees were recorded using a

metal metric diameter tape graduated in centimetres.

The sample of total tree height measurements were recorded using a Vertex Hagloff digital

hypsometer sampled for all range of diameter classes. The equation was developed relating

measured height with the function of log DBH using height–growth function (Curtis 1967) as

in Equation 1. The height curve equation was later used for calculating height of individual

trees (hg).

hg = a + b*log (DBH) ................................(Equation 1),

where a is the intercept and b, the coefficient.

The basal area per tree (g) was calculated for each tree using formula as Equation 2.

g = ¼ (π × DBH2)/10 000 ...........................(Equation 2),

where π is constant value at 3.1416.

The basal area ha-1

(G) was obtained by totalling the individual values and converting the

results into a ha-1

value using the area factor (1:area of plot) Equation 3.

G = Σ basal area per tree × 1/ area of plot ...............(Equation 3)

The volume per tree (v) was calculated as in Equation 4.

v = basal area × hg × 0.6 ..........................................(Equation 4),

with a reduction factor of 0.6 to allow for stem taper.

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The volume per ha (V) is the total sum of individual tree volumes converted to ha-1

.

The mean annual increment volume (MAIv) refers to the total production of the stand at the

time of study, including removals of the past dividing by stand age (Equation 5).

MAIv = (V + ΣR) / stand age .......................( Equation 5)

ΣR = total removals up to stand age.

Additional information of plantation-grown N. cadamba was also collected including the

distance from water source and topographical positions to determine the effect of these

parameters on DBH growth.

Figure 1 a, b, c, d and e shows the five study sites in Sandakan, Kanowit, Setul and Bukit

Lagong.

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a) Kenangan Manis, Sandakan (N. cadamba)

b) Kanowit, Immense Fleet, Sibu

c) Setul Forest Reserve d) Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve

e) Kenangan Manis, Sandakan (O. sumatrana)

Figure 1 Study sites in five locations in Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia

Results and Discussion

The results obtained from the assessment on the trial and commercial planting of the species

in different parts of Sabah (private plantations), Sarawak (Immense Fleet, Kanowit, Sibu) and

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Peninsular Malaysia (Setul and Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve) are as shown in Table 1, 2, 3

and 4. The achieved growth and yield varies with sites, silviculture management, intensity of

management and soil types.

Table 1 Private plantations, Kenangan Manis, Sandakan (150 trees)

Plot/(S%) Age N DBH hg G V MAIv Ele

1/100 4 333 19.9 13.85 10.42 85.59 21.65 25 – 30

2/98 4 327 23.7 15.46 14.36 133.20 33.30

3/94 4 313 23.6 15.93 14.54 138.97 34.74

Average 22.4 119.25 29.87

MAI 5.6

Table 2 Immense Fleet stands, Sibu, Kanowit, Sarawak (150 trees)

Plot/(S%) Age N DBH hg G V MAIv Ele.

1/39 4 437 19.3 14.0 12.82 107.69 31.41 181.6

2/35 4 388 19.2 12.9 11.29 87.38 21.84 176.6

3/31 4 350 18.6 11.6 9.49 66.05 16.51 99.7

Average 19.0 87.04 23.25

MAI 4.8

The results indicate the variation in the productivity of the planted stands with reduction in

mean annual volume increment as the elevation and distance from water source increases. As

shown in Setul Forest Reserve, the MAIv hardly achieved an average of 10 m3 ha

-1 year

-1 at 4

years after planting. The elevation of the stands in Setul ranged from 75 to 250 m above sea

level, aggravated by the mechanical site preparation during the establishment phase depriving

of the available top soils needed at 1-2 years after planting. In both cases in Kanowit and

Setul, despite having better average MAIv in the former, the survival rate at 4 years after

planting has reduced down to 40 % and from 56 to 79 % in Setul, which may affect the

choice of trees for selection in the first or second thinning.

Table 3 Setul Forest Reserve, Negeri Sembilan (400 trees)

Plot/source (S %) Age N DBH hg G V MAIv Ele.

1/Keningau 4 855 9.4 6.56 5.89 23.18 5.79 75 - 250

2 (79) 882 10.0 7.78 6.93 32.35 8.08

3/Ulu Segama 4 827 12.2 8.64 9.64 49.97 12.49

4 (70) 782 10.3 7.13 6.52 27.89 6.93

5/Sibuga 4 418 11.4 8.47 4.26 21.65 5.41

6 (61) 682 10.8 7.97 6.29 30.08 7.52

7/L. Datu 4 573 13.6 10.25 8.33 51.22 12.81

8 (56) 627 11.4 8.78 6.43 33.87 8.47

Average 11.1 33.78 8.44

MAI 2.8

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Table 4 Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve, Selangor (200 trees)

Plot/(S %) Age N DBH hg G V MAIv Ele.

1/82 3.5 1650 12.4 10.34 18.10 115.37 32.96 123

2/91 3.5 1566 11.4 9.17 15.15 102.25 29.21 123

Average 11.9 31.08

MAI 3.4

Table 5 Private plantations, Kenangan Manis, Sandakan (150 trees) [O. sumatrana]

Plot/(S%) Age N DBH hg G V MAIv Ele.

1/88 3.5 287 20.5 13.51 9.65 79.37 19.84 25 – 30

N- number of stems ha-1

, S-survival rate, DBH – average diameter at breast height

corresponding to basal area (cm), hg - total tree height (m); G – basal area ha-1

, V – volume

ha-1

; MAI – mean annual increment; Ele. – elevation (m)

Similarly with the O. sumatrana, since it was a single plot the achieved growth and yield is as

shown in Table 5 with average DBH of 20.5 cm and MAIv at 19.84 m3 ha

-1year

-1 at 4 years

after planting.

Discussion and Conclusion

In comparing the performance of the species, the growth and yield from Setul Forest Reserve

were the lowest. After 4 years, the N. cadamba stands has only reached an average diameter

at breast height between 9.4 and 13.6 cm, much lower as compared with similar stands in low

lying areas with high moisture regime such as in Sabah and Sarawak. The stands in

Sandakan and Bukit Lagong showed encouraging growth and yield results having an average

diameter of 5.6 and 3.4 cm year-1

and higher rate of survival at more than 80 percent. These

results have clearly indicated the normal ecological requirements of the species with less

disturbances during the site preparation for better growth and yield performance.

Apart on the growth and yield performance, the results obtained from the trial planting

explained the potentials of the species if to be domesticated from the naturally grown trees in

the wild. Similar studies conducted in Indonesia (Tony 2012) have shown similar results in

the restoration of degraded sites in Riau, Sumatra.

Subsequently the effects of growth on the topographical position of the species has not

provides any conclusive results. Despite having similar topographical positions in Setul and

Kanowit, the average growth and yield in Setul was much lower at 8.44 m3 ha

-1 than in

Kanowit at 23.25 m3 ha

-1. The continuous monitoring on the performance of the species in

both sites may help to answer on the importance of sites prior implementation of any future

planting projects.

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Similarly, data relating the growth with the ecological requirements of the species,

observation showed that N. cadamba was site-specific growing favourably along riverside

areas or in association with water as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 Negative relationship between diameter at breast height (DBH) and distance from

water source

The results relating diameter growth with distance from water source produced a determine

of coefficient (R2

) at 33.4 %, meaning 66.6 % of the variables are still unexplained. As such

more data are required to improve the relationship affecting diameter growth of the species.

The growth and yield performance of O. sumatrana is as presented and no comparison can be

made as it was a single plot of similar age and specific to a particular site. However, the

achieved growth and yield was as comparable with N. cadamba sharing similar ecological

habitat, soil types and establishment method.

As a summary, the trial plantings were still at the very early stage of the rotation, and the data

obtained is still preliminary and continuous measurements and observations are proposed to

obtain more reliable results. More scientific studies should be conducted in particular the

spacing and using different types of planting materials production that may provide more

reliable information on the silvicultural of the species. However, the results obtained from

the trials seemed promising only on specific sites and may help in answering questions

pertaining the potential and suitability of the species, objectives of planting and guiding in the

restoration works in areas having high moisture regime or utilization of inundated areas.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to express our sincere thanks to Rimba Aktif Plantation, Sabah State Director

of Forestry for their permission conducting this study in the N. cadamba stands in Setul

Forest Reserve, Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve, private trial in Kenangan Manis, Sandakan and

Kanowit, Sibu, Sarawak. Our special thanks to the Director-General of the Forestry Research

Institute Malaysia (FRIM) and Malaysian Timber Industrial Board (MTIB) as this study was

part of the Memorandum of Agreement (2010-2012) between FRIM and MTIB. Special

thanks to Ms Maria Ajik, Sepilok, staff from the Forest Plantation Programme in FRIM and

MTIB for facilitating in the data collection.

References

Carrere, R. & Lohmann, L. (1996). Pulping the South: Industrial Tree Plantations and the

World Paper Economy. Zed Books, London, 280 p.

Curtis, R. O. (1967). Height-diameter age equations for second-growth Douglas fir. Forest

Science 3 (4): 365-375.

Ho, K.S. & Shim, H.C. (1994). Sawn timber from Acacia mangium affected by heartrot.

Research Pamphlet No. 114, Forest Research Institute of Malaysia.

Jari Celulose S.A. (unpublished). Notes provided to IUFRO study tour of Jari, August 1997.

McNabb, K., Borges, J. & Welker, J. (1994). Jari at 25: an investment in the Amazon.

Journal of Forestry 93(2): 21-26.

Ng, S.P.F. (1996). High quality planting stock – has research made a difference. Occasional

Paper No. 8. Centre for International Forestry Research, Bogor, Indonesia. 13 p.

Tony, W. (2012). Responsibly managed plantations on peatland – A positive story. Paper

presented at the Workshop on the Enhanced Sustainability of Forestry Practices on

Peatlands, IPB International Convention Centre, Bogor, Indonesia, 27-28 June 2012,

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