Domestication of Dyera polyphylla (Miq.) Steenis in peatland agroforestry systems in Jambi, Indonesia

Hesti L Tata,Jasnari Jasnari,Meine Van Noordwijk,Atiek Widayati

doi:10.1007/s10457-015-9837-3

Hesti L Tata, Jasnari Jasnari + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-015-9837-3

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Abstract

As part of a broader pattern of recovery after decline called forest transition, tree cover and carbon stocks have increased through agroforestry systems in many parts of Indonesia. The associated tree diversity transition implies that only the most useful parts of local tree flora are promoted. Swamp- land jelutong, Dyera polyphylla, has been domesti- cated in peat areas Jambi province, Indonesia. We discuss jelutong domestication in two coastal districts, referring to seven steps in a gradual change from products collected from communal natural forests to specific genotypes managed on private farms. Domes- tication of D. polyphylla in Jambi was in the initial stages three decades ago, when jelutong latex was directly tapped from the trees in its natural habitat of peat swamp forests. Tapping jelutong latex stopped in 2005 following the national regulation taxing forest products. Some farmers then started jelutong cultiva- tion, motivated by the profitability of trading jelutong latex in the past. Our on-farm study showed that jelutong can be planted in various mixed agroforestry systems, with rubber, coffee or oil palm as dominants. Planted jelutong with good farm management showed diameter growth rates of 1.3 to 1.9 cm year -1 . On- farm trials showed that dolomite as soil ameliorant did not affect diameter growth, but had some effect on height. Jelutong planted between young oil palm had the best performance, while jelutong that was under- planted in mature rubber gardens grew slowly. Slow market revival currentlyconstrains further tree domes- tication of jelutong.

Highlights

As part of a broader pattern of recovery after decline called forest transition, tree cover and carbon stocks have increased through agroforestry systems in many parts of Indonesia
The diameter frequency distribution of the three natural jelutong stands in Tanjabar and Tanjabtim (Fig. 2) showed that jelutong was under threat, since the number of jelutong trees was lower than expected on the basis of earlier data of undisturbed stands
Due to the high rate of extraction of wood from the forests, which was confirmed by local informants, only 23 wild jelutong trees ha-1 were encountered in Tanjabar, while 60 wild jelutong trees ha-1 were encountered in the less accessible stand in Tanjabtim

Summary

Introduction

As part of a broader pattern of recovery after decline called forest transition, tree cover and carbon stocks have increased through agroforestry systems in many parts of Indonesia. Domestication of D. polyphylla in Jambi was in the initial stages three decades ago, when jelutong latex was directly tapped from the trees in its natural habitat of peat swamp forests. Our on-farm study showed that jelutong can be planted in various mixed agroforestry systems, with rubber, coffee or oil palm as dominants. While technically it is a small step to shift from accidental to deliberate seed dispersal, the economics is challenging of a transition from a situation where human labour is spent only for harvesting products to one that involves planting, tending and caring for young trees many years before they yield commercial products (Martini et al 2012). It can Agroforest Syst (2016) 90:617–630 coexist with market-led processes elsewhere where actors further down the value chain invest and/or with public sector support for underpinning research (Simons and Leakey 2004)

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