Effect of spacing regimes on growth, yield, and wood properties of tectona grandis at Longuza forest plantation, Tanzania
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Forestry Research
Abstract
This study examined the effects of planting spacing on growth, yield, and wood properties of teak planted at square spacing regimes
of 2 m, 3 m, and 4 m at Longuza Forest Plantation, Tanzania. To achieve this, tree, stand, and wood properties were studied at age of
14 years. Results showed that diameter at breast height and total height increased with increasing spacing. Mean annual increment
increased significantly with increasing spacing while spacing did not have significant effect on total volume production and basal
area. Basic density is also not affected by spacing while heartwood proportion increases as planting spacing increases. All studied
wood properties (modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, compression strength tangential to grain, and shear tangential to the
grain) except cleavage tangential to grain were not significantly affected by increasing spacing. It is recommended to use the spacing
of 3 × 3 m, but if thinning can be done before onset of competition at 5 years, the currently used spacing of 2.5 × 2.5 m can still be
used. However, the use of a spacing of 4 × 4 m can give at least 50% heartwood at shorter rotation age of 30 years.
Description
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
International Journal of Forestry Research
Volume 2015, Article ID 469760, 6 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/469760
Keywords
Spacing Regimes, Yield Growth, Wood Properties, Tectona grandis, Longuza Forest Plantation, Tanzania