Growth, yield and wood properties of teak (Tectona grandis) provenances at longuza forest plantation, Muheza District, Tanzania
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Date
2024-05
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Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
A comprehensive study was conducted at Longuza Forest Plantation
in Tanzania to enhance the production of Teak (Tectona grandis) in
response to increasing demand for improved Teak provenances for
productive plantations. The study aimed to evaluate the growth
performance and wood properties of 12 provenances established in
2011, comprising 41 families. The experiment used a randomized
complete block design with 8 replications, each plot containing 6
trees. The growth performance assessment included survival,
diameter at breast height (Dbh), height (Ht), basal area (BA), volume
(Vol), and mean annual increment (MAI). Additionally, the study
examined stem straightness and the physical properties. Statistical
analysis was carried out using SAS® software version 9.4,
NPAR1WAY and rank procedures. The results showed non-
significant differences (p > 0.05) in survival among provenances but
highly significant differences (p < .0001) for Dbh, Ht, Vol, BA, and
MAI, the average values for these parameters were 68.70 ± 5.64 %,
21.35 ± 4.04 cm, 18.65 ± 2.2 m, 304.83 ± 135.37 m3 ha−1, 9.96 ±
3.60 m2 ha−1, and 27.71 ± 12.30 m3 ha−1 yr−1 respectively. The study
identified superior performing provenances, including the East Africa
Longuza seed stand, East Africa Longuza Provenance Trial, and
East Africa Longuza Progeny Trial. Furthermore, the results
revealed significant variation in stem straightness among
provenances with the average score of 1.9 ± 0.8. Provenances like
East Africa Mtibwa, CSIRO Thailand, and East Africa Longuza seed
stand showed superior stem straightness. However, no substantial
variations in physical properties were observed among the
provenances. The average basic density was 0.571 ± 0.059 g cm−3,
with mean ranging from 0.469 ± 0.053 in CSIRO Thailand to 0.545 ±
0.071 g cm−3 in East Africa Longuza Progeny Trial. Based on the
findings, the study recommends planting East Africa Longuza seed
stand, East Africa Longuza Provenance Trial, and East Africa
Longuza Progeny Trial in pilot plantations at Longuza and in areas
with similar climatic and soil conditions. Furthermore, the study
Description
Master Degree of Science in Forestry
Keywords
eak, Family, Provenance, Survival, Growth, Wood quality