Interactive Effect of Tree Geometry and Exogenous Nutrition on Pulpwood Productivity of Melia dubia Cav. in Short Rotation Agro-forestry

Abstract

Melia dubia is an indigenous fast growing tree species with multipurpose uses like pulpwood, plywood and timber. Cultivation of Melia dubia fits in various agro-climatic conditions and it is more amenable tree species. Therefore, farmers in the western part of Tamil Nadu state prefer to include this as favorable short rotation agro-forestry component. Short rotation tree species need precise cultivation practices, especially tree geometry and fertilizer application to get more remuneration per unit area of cultivable land. To standardize the plant geometry and fertilizer application, a trial was conducted in the TNPL’s Plantation Research Block, Kagithapuram, Karur, Tamil Nadu. The experiment was conducted in split plot design consisting main plots of 4 different spacing (S) viz. S₁- 1.5m × 1.5m (4444 plants ha^-1), S₂- 2.0m × 2.0m (2500 plants  ha^-1), S₃- 2.0m × 2.5m (2000 plants ha^-1) and S₄- 3.0m × 1.5m (2200 plants ha^-1). The sub plots consist of 4 different fertilizer schedules (F) viz. F₁- Control- no fertilizers, F₂- 100 : 50 : 100 NPK      kg ha^-1  , F₃- 150 : 75 : 150 NPK kg ha^-1 and F₄- 200 : 100 : 200 NPK kg ha^-1. Bio metric observations were recorded periodically and at the end of third year, stand volume and biomass carbon of the plantation were estimated and statistically processed. From the results obtained in the present investigation, spacing of 2.0m × 2.0m with 2500 trees ha^-1 and a fertilizer dose of 150: 75: 150 kg NPK ha^-1 to Melia dubia pulpwood production can be recommended to the farmers for getting maximum returns per unit area.