Eucalyptus pellita Coppice vs. Seedlings as a Re-Establishment Method in South Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

Eucalyptus pellita can be regenerated through coppice. We report on the first known study of full-rotation productivity of E. pellita coppice and seedling re-establishment methods. We conducted this study at a high productivity site in South Sumatra, with the objectives to (1) evaluate the productivity of a first rotation of coppice stand in comparison with a replanted seedling crop, (2) investigate the effect of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertiliser application on growth, and (3) examine the effect of timing of coppice stem number reduction on growth. The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design replicated five times. At the end of rotation (6 years after establishment) the coppice stand had substantially higher productivity (height 23.7 m, diameter 16.4 cm, volume 269.9 m3 ha−1, and MAI 45.0 m3 ha−1 y−1) compared to the replanted seedling stand (height 20.5 m, diameter 13.8 cm, volume 193.6 m3 ha−1, and MAI 32.3 m3 ha−1 y−1). Coppice stand also had higher biomass production but slightly lower wood density than the seedling stand. Neither stand responded to application of N fertiliser, and only the seedling stand responded positively to P fertiliser addition. Coppice reduction to one stem at 2 months after tree felling produced the stand with slightly greater diameter than that at 4 months after tree felling, but had approximately the same volume.

Eucalyptus pellita and Acacia hybrid species: potential bioenergy plantation in managing the risk of invasive in Indonesia

“…While for the Acacia hybrid was 131 m 3 .ha -1 to 200 m 3 .ha -1 . The stand volume for E. pellita after 36 months in this study was lower than the study in South Sumatra reported by Hardiyanto et al [12] with approximately 75 m 3 .ha -1 . It shows that the appropriate site planting conditions are crucial for the growth of E. pellita [10].…”