Establishment and growth of sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) in south-western Australia: the Northampton pilot trial

Abstract

Summary Direct seeding sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) beneath 1–2 year old host (Acacia acuminata) seedlings was found to be a successful establishment technique at Northampton. Mean survival of S. spicatum rows ranged from 50 to 87%. after 8–9 years. Growth was also good, with mean stem diameter increasing at a rate of 4–7 mm yr−1, and mean estimated stem weight gaining 0.28–0.46 kg yr−1, between 4.5 and 9 years. However, a high proportion of host trees had died, and the remaining trees were in poor health at the time of assessment (November 1997). After 10 years. A. acuminata survival in rows seeded with S. spicatum in 1988 was significantly lower than rows seeded in 1989. Differences in host survival between S. spicatum planting years may be due to the initial period of growth without a root parasite, or the S. spicatum to host ratio. Growth of S. spicatum was also variable between planting years and provenances. At age 5.5. mean tree height of the Hazelby's provenance (194 cm) was significantly taller than all other provenances (157 cm). The variability in growth rate may have been due to differences in rainfall between planting years or genetic differences between provenances. A selection program should be conducted to identify superior provenances or individual trees with desirable plantation characteristics, such as fast growth or high oil content. Plantations could be established in a range of locations in West- em Australia to test site suitability of different provenances.