Alternative eucalypts for commercial pulpwood production at moderately dry sites in the warm temperate zone of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Productivity and water use of commercial forestry species and their potential impact on surface water resources in two forestry areas of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

“…It is primarily for this reason of site diversity, that species suitable for a specific site is selected for the with an intention of managing risks associated with a failure of crop due to drought, hail and snow, pests and diseases and frost (Swain and Gardner 2004). The site-species matching in commercial forestry species has been well researched and summarised in South Africa (Clarke et al 1997, Gardner 2007, Swain and Gardner 2004, Nichols et al 2010, Gardner et al 2018) providing clear evidence that selecting a best species for a specific site results in improved tree productivity and ultimately crop yields. In a South African study by Gardner et al (2018) in warm temperate areas of KwaZulu-Natal, the basal area for E. dunnii, considered to be best suited to these climatic conditions, was 42 to 62% greater than alternative species (E. grandis and E. benthamii).…”

“…The site-species matching in commercial forestry species has been well researched and summarised in South Africa (Clarke et al 1997, Gardner 2007, Swain and Gardner 2004, Nichols et al 2010, Gardner et al 2018) providing clear evidence that selecting a best species for a specific site results in improved tree productivity and ultimately crop yields. In a South African study by Gardner et al (2018) in warm temperate areas of KwaZulu-Natal, the basal area for E. dunnii, considered to be best suited to these climatic conditions, was 42 to 62% greater than alternative species (E. grandis and E. benthamii). Under similar conditions, a study by Crous et al (2019) reported a 10% higher survival, 6.4% greater basal area and 18.9% greater production in volume per ha by the firstchoice species (E. dunnii) relative to a species that was an alternative (E. grandis, E. smithii and E. macarthurii).…”