Abstract
Eucalyptus spp. is an important species in the worldwide quality tropical hardwood sector, which has also gained significance in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia since the first large plantations established in 2008s. In October 2018, the trial planting of Eucalyptus hybrid (E. grandis x E. urophylla) and Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell was conducted in Hulu Sedili Forest Plantations, Kota Tinggi, Johore a tropical site with year–round high rainfall and humidity. The E. hybrid were formerly raised using tissue culture technique in the laboratory, Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) using the plantlets introduced from Tawau, Sabah. While the E. pellita seedlings were conventionally raised from seeds obtained from Seed Production Areas in Sabah Softwood Bhd, Tawau. After 18 months, it was clear that diameter, height growth and periodic increments of E. hybrid out performed E. pellita in the humid tropical environment. The average diameter at breast height, total height, periodic annual diameter and height increments of E. hybrid were significantly different in comparison with E. pellita. The initial vegetative measurement revealed the growth performance of Eucalyptus hybrid with respect with achieved diameter at breast height and total height was higher as compared with Eucalyptus pellita with good survival rate of greater than 90 percent.
Highlights
The capacity of existing natural forest is slowly decreasing in its capability meeting the increasing demand of round logs for the domestic wood processing industries
The results from the measurement revealed that the growth performance of Eucalyptus hybrid in term of total height, diameter at breast height (d) and periodic annual increment (PAI) are significantly higher as compared with Eucalyptus pellita in both plots P6 and P12, with good survival rate of greater than 90 percent
After 18 months, it was clear that the early growth performance of E. hybrid, originating from Southern China outperformed E. pellita in both diameter and height growth
Summary
The capacity of existing natural forest is slowly decreasing in its capability meeting the increasing demand of round logs for the domestic wood processing industries. In an effort to reduce reliance on natural round logs from natural forests and as strategy to overcome the problem of scarcity, forestry companies and investors in Malaysia has initiated the programme of commercial planting of selected fast growing species for continuous wood supply. In this programme both native and exotic species was selected for planting including Neolamarckia cadamba, The planters in Sabah and Sarawak reacted to this situation by switching to Eucalyptus species such as E. pellita and Eucalyptus hybrid in areas formerly planted with Acacias. The E. hybrids formerly introduced from Southern China have been satisfactorily trial planted in various parts of Sabah as pilot plantations, with the oldest recorded stands since 2008 in Sabah Softwood Berhad, Tawau
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