Which factors most influence heartwood distribution and radial growth in plantation teak?

Abstract

• To investigate the effect of climate on radial growth in young plantation grown teak (Tectona grandis L.), growth ring width was measured in 105 trees and correlated to precipitation and temperature data. • The social status of trees within the stand was also determined and cross-sectional area (CSA) for the trunk correlated to the proportion of heartwood (HW) within the tree. HW develops asymmetrically in leaning stems of some conifer species, but it is not known if this phenomenon also occurs in broadleaf species. Therefore, we measured HW proportion in leaning and straight stems, along with the number of growth rings in the HW. • Annual ring width depended strongly on mean monthly temperature during the rainy season and the most significant relationships were found corresponding to the months of June and July. With regard to the weaker relationship between precipitation and radial growth, correlations were highest during the period of bud-break at the beginning of the rainy season. • The very high stand density affected radial growth, particularly in suppressed trees, which responded little to thinning operations. HW formation was greatest in dominant trees, and was highly regressed with stem CSA. • Therefore, rapid growth of young stands should be encouraged by reducing stand density. Asymmetric HW formation occurred in both leaning and straight trees, and was significantly greater along the upper sides of leaning stems. It is probable that this eccentric HW formation is linked to mechanical loading on the tree.