Level of damage on sengon stand based on tree vitality indicators at sengon community forest in Serang District, Banten Province

Abstract

Sengon plantation is the primary commodity of the community forests, which produces timber with high economic value, especially in Java Island. However, now the condition of sengon stands in Java Island, pests and diseases have attacked most. The information about the health and the severity of the stands due to pests and diseases is beneficial for determining stand productivity and investment security. The purpose of this activity is to determine the level of damage on sengon stands at various locations in Serang Regency, Banten, based on indicators of tree vitality. The method used to determine stand health is Forest Health Monitoring (FHM), which includes using tree vitality indicators and site quality indicators as a basis for assessment. The observation plot was carried out at 3 locations determined purposively based on the flat distance from the beach, which is ≤ 2 km; 2> X≤ 4 km; 4> X ≤6 km. The results showed that the average percentage of healthy sengon trees was still quite high (82.7%), but the level of damage to stands was moderate. The most common type of damage is gummosis (distance ≤ 2 km and > 4-6 km) and boktor (> 2-4 km). Many tree damage occurs in the main branch location found in the live canopy section (code 6), especially in plots that are 2> X≤ 4 km from the coastline and lower stem (distance ≤ 2 km). However, no damage was found at the root location (code 1), shoots (code 8) and leaves (code 9). The damage of the stem causes a decrease in wood production because the damaged at part of the stem cannot be used anymore. Visual Crown Ratio of sengon trees tends to be low due to young trees so that the canopy is not maximal. Maintenance activities, as well as mixed planting techniques with intercropping plants and other woody plants, can prevent sengon plants from attacking pests and diseases.