Summary:
Published in Forest Ecology and Management 56: 13-28
Casuarina equisetifolia Forst. & Forst. plantations, established to stabilize sand dunes on the north coast of Senegal and thus protect inland agricultural areas, were sampled to determine if growth and yield were affected by microtopography. Microtopographical position, classified as interdune depressions, flanks, or summits, was found to have a highly significant effect on height, diameter, and volume growth. Maximum mean annual height increment was attained at Age 6 years (1.6 m year-1) in interdune depressions, at Age 7.5 (1.3 m year -1) on flanks, and at Age 8.5 (1.1 m year-1) on summits. Diameter distributions showed that the interdune depressions had a greater percentage of large diameter trees than flanks of summits. Maximum mean annual volume increment was 4.2 m3 ha-1 year-1 at Age 18 years for the interdune depressions, 2.0 m3 ha-1 year-1 at Age 29 for flanks, and 1.7 m3 ha-1 year-1 at Age 30 for summits. Thus, different rotation lengths can be recommended for specific microsites depending on microtopographical position and on whether fiber production or soil amelioration is the dominant management objective.
Sector(s):
Forests
Catégorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Forest Ecology, Forestry Research, Forests
Departmental author(s):
Author(s):
NDIAYE, Papa, Daniel MAILLY, Marius PINEAU et Hank A. MARGOLIS
Year of publication:
1993
Format:
PDF upon request
How to get the publication:
Keyword(s):
growth, yield, Casuarina equisetifolia, Ironwood, plantation, Senegal, forest ecology, écologie forestière, croissance, rendement, Filao, plantation, Sénégal, forestry research scientific article