Growth And Survival of Seedlings and Saplings in the Logged - Over Forest, Kintap, South Kalimantan

Abstract

A study on demography, growth and survival of seedlings and saplings was conducted in the Hutan Kintap concenssion, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. The aim of the study was to monitor pattern of growth of seedlings and saplings among different types of logged - over forest, including the newly logged - forest, older logged - over forests (treated and untreated), and un-logged-forest patches. The study began in 1991, and nineteen of 0.25 ha plots were set up in a total of six blocks designated as consecutively A, B, C, D, E and F. Block A was a newly logged forest and had five plots, and Block B - D were in forest which had been logged in 1979. Block B (five plots) had received no silvicultural treatment, while Block C (five plots) and D (one plot) had been lightly thinned after felling and further Block C received a further thinning treatment Block E (one plot) had been heavily thinned, and Block F (2 plots) was an un-logged control. The density of seedling varied within the study sites, and averaged from 47,000 ha" to 121,000 ha·1• The mean height increment of seedlings varied among block ranging from 2.9 cm year' to 10.5 cm year". Block A had the highest general mean increment of 10.5 cm year", followed in decreasing order by Block C of 5.4 and Block F, 4.5 cm year". Growth of seedling in Block B was low, even lower than the growth in the un-logged Block F. The difference of the increment among Block A, B, C and F however was not significant. The liberation treatment in Block C significantly resulted in a higher (p <0 . 0 1 ) increment (5.4 cm year") than that in the untreated Block B (2.9 cm year"). Seedling mortality ranged from 16 to 37 % year", and declined with height class. The mortality of seedlings might be related among other factors to the humidity and density of seedlings per-unit area. The density of sapling ranged from 6,800 ha" to 7,700 ha" and they had diameter growth of 0.8 mm year" to 2.2 mm year", and height growth of 12.6 cm year" to 21.8 cm year"1. The difference in the diameter increment among block r \ , B, C and F was not significant. The average sapling height increment varied (but not significantly so) among Block, ranging from 12.6 cm year" in Block A to 21.8 cm year" in Block C. Mortality of sapling was relatively low in all block. Higher mortality in the un-logged forest Block I' and in the untreated Block B might due to the low degree of canopy opening.