Abstract
Patterns of woody regeneration in terms of species composition and diversity were studied in a 37-year-old teak plantation established on degraded mixed deciduous forest (MDF) at Mae Yuak Plantation Station, Ngao District, Lampang Province, Northern Thailand. In order to assess the role of plantations in regeneration of woody tree species within the plantation, the understorey floristic structures and composition were evaluated fifteen 20 m × 20 m plots at three sites differing in topographic position, stand structure and distance from natural forest. The average density and species richness of woody regeneration in the plantation was 556.7 stem ha −1 and 9.6 species plot −1, respectively. The Shannon–Wiener index was 2.47–2.68, and Sorensen's index of similarity between plantation and the adjacent MDF was 0.38–0.55. A total of 334 woody regeneration individuals were found in 0.6 ha of teak plantation, representing 37 species, with Leguminosae the most common family. Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kurz (Leguminosae) showed the highest density of 73.3 stem ha −1. The eight most dominant species were P. macrocarpus, Dalbergia oliveri Gamble, Croton roxburghii N.P. Balakr, Xylia xylocarpa (Roxb.) Tuab., D. cultrate Graham ex Benth., Wrightia arborea (Dennst.) Mabb., Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken and Morinda tomentosa Heyne ex Roth. The proximity to the natural forest, seed dispersal characteristics and site qualities influenced woody regeneration. These results show teak plantations could be effective tools in rehabilitating degraded MDF in Northern Thailand.
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