Effects of thinning on growth, yield and stem quality of pinus patula at Sao hill forest plantation, Mufindi district, Tanzania
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation
Abstract
Pinus patula is one of the most important
plantation species grown in Eastern and
Southern Africa. Its growth rate and yield
vary considerably depending on site
conditions, management techniques and
genetic quality of the trees. It has been
suspected that thinning of softwood
plantations in Tanzania has been neglected
resulting in lower standing volume being
distributed into many small trees of poor
form. This study assessed the effects of
thinning on growth, yield and stem quality of
Pinus patula at Sao Hill Forest Plantation
located in Southern Highland part of
Tanzania. In a systematically established
plots; diameter of all trees, a total height of
three trees and stem quality of four classes
were recorded. An independent t-test was
used to test for significant difference in stand
parameters and Mann-Whitney U test was
used to test stem quality between thinned and
unthinned stand. Results showed that
thinning significantly increased growth and
yield of Pinus patula. Thinning improves
stem quality by 9% resulting in trees having
straight and good stem form. Thinned stands
yielded higher volume than unthinned
stands. Therefore, this study recommends
that pine plantations should be timely
thinned as per used thinning schedule to
ensure that more volume is attained.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Sao Hill forest plantation, Pinus patula, Thinned stand, Unthinned stand, Stem quality