Acacia Crassicarpa Research Articles

Pulping and Bleaching of Plantation Fast-growing Acacias (Part 1)

Three species of plantation fast-growing Acacia woods of different ages were subjected to kraft cooking and bleaching by the use of CEH sequence. Chemical composition, and structural features of cell wall components of these Acacias were also characterized. Species of Acacia used in this experiment were Acacia mangium, Acacia auriculiformis, and Acacia crassicarpa. These three Acacias were easily pulped using the conventional kraft process with acceptables pulp yields, i. e. 50% total yield with kappa number of 20. Co-cooking of these Acacias, either as a mixture of different ages of the same species or as a mixture of different species, also showed acceptable results. The pulp could be bleached using conventional CEH bleaching sequence giving brightness greater than 75%. Analytical results indicated that these Acacias have typical chemical characteristics of hardwood without any significant drawback unfavorable for chemical pulping even at the age of three years.

EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF SEEDLINGS OF SIX TREE SPECIES AFTER A ROTATION OFACACIA MANGIUMON ANIMPERATA CYLINDRICAGRASSLAND SITE IN SOUTH KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA

ABSTRACT Early development of six fast-growing plantation tree species as well as the natural regeneration of Acacia mangium were studied after one rotation of A. mangium on an Imperata cylindrica grassland site in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Seedlings were planted in a randomized complete block design in May 1994, one month after clear-cutting of the first rotation crops. No site preparation or fertilization was used. 24 mo after establishment A. mangium had high mean survival (98%) and height (8.7 m), followed by Acacia crassicarpa (survival 71%; height 8.0 m). A. mangium suffered from damage caused by squirrels (Lariscus sp.), and Eucalyptus camaldulensis from dieback. Gmelina arborea was occasionally attacked by weevils (Curculionidae). The quantity of ground vegetation was low and Imperata grass was suppressed by Chromolaena odorata and other shrub species. Early growth rates of A. mangium confirmed its potential for second rotation, even though observed damage for most of the species warrant carefu...

INITIAL GROWTH OF LEGUMINOUS TREES AND SHRUBS IN A CUT GOLD MINED AREA IN MINAS GERAIS STATE, BRAZIL

In an opencast gold mining in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, leguminous trees and shrubs were used to revegetate an acid cut mined area. the substrate was high in pyrite content (3%) and received 50 cm of covered material in two layers: (1) insulating layer of 20 cm where clay or a mining refuse (MR) was used to prevent the pyrite oxidation, and (2) an upper layer with 30 cm formed by topsoil or topsoil + urban compost (3:1 v/v). After the application of the cover materials, planting holes were manually made spaced by 1 x 1 m. Each hole received limestone (100 g), rock phosphate (150 g), potassium chloride (45 g) and cattle manure (2 L). Fifteen leguminous species were planted an each plot (15 x 8 m), spaced by 1.0 x 1.0 m (one specie per row). Sixteen months after the planting the plants were evaluated and the results showed an effect of substrate on the plants survival, height, and diameter. The use of clay as insulating layer was better than mining refuse and the plants did not respond to the addition of urban compost to the topsoil. Among the evaluated species, Thephrosia sinapau, Erytrina verna, Dipterix alata andmore » Stryphnodenadrum guyanensis showed a mortality rate of 100% after 16 months while Sesbania marginata, Acacaia holosericea, Mimosa pellita, Acacia crassicarpa, Acacia mangium and Acacia angustissima exhibited more adaptation capacity to the acid substrate. Analyses from the substrate showed higher exchangeable acidity (Al{sup 3+}) for the plots receiving MR as insulating layer. This study has applications for the acid mine drainage from coal mines of Brazil.« less

Effect of nurse tree species on early growth of Anisoptera marginata Korth. (Dipterocarpaceae) on an Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. grassland site in South Kalimantan, Indonesia

The effect of four nurse tree species on early growth of an indigenous dipterocarp species, Anisoptera marginata, was studied on an Imperata cylindrica dominated grassland site in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. A rationale for the study was that fast-growing nurse tree species can ameliorate site conditions in such a way that dipterocarps, which are not able to tolerate open grassland conditions, can be integrated into fast-growing tree plantations. The trial was established with a RCB design with four replications under a 3-yr-old species trial testing suitable species for Imperata grassland reforestation. At the age of 19 months, the survival rate of A. marginata was 83–98% with no statistically significant differences between the nurse tree species. Wild boars caused 68% of the total mortality. Height and diameter ( D 0.05) increments were highest under Paraserianthes falcataria (140.3 cm and 12.5 mm), and differed significantly from Acacia crassicarpa (90.0 cm and 8.4 mm), A. mangium (57.7 cm and 5.5 mm) and Gmelina arborea (19.2 cm and 3.5 mm). This can be explained by the higher levels of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) penetrated to the understorey of P. falcataria stands (38–84% PPFD) compared to the stands of other species (<30% PPFD). Height and diameter ( D 0.05) increment of A. marginata increased until 40–50% PPFD. Results indicate good prospects for the diversification of fast-growing plantations on Imperata grasslands using dipterocarps with wide ecological tolerance, and stress the importance of the relationship between the nurse tree species and the understorey light conditions for the growth of underplanted dipterocarps.

Evaluation of reforestation potential of 83 tree species planted on Imperata cylindrica dominated grassland – A case study from South Kalimantan, Indonesia

Survival and growth of 83 tree species were tested in three separate species elimination trials on Imperata cylindrica dominated grassland in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. The trial layout was randomized complete blocks design with 6–8 replications of 5-tree line plots. At the age of two years exotics, like several Acacia species (A. mangium, A. crassicarpa, A. auriculiformis, A. cincinnata, A. leptocarpa), as well as Gmelina arborea, Paraserianthes falcataria and Cassia siamea had survival rates of 90–100%, crown width of 3–6 m and mean height of 5–8 m. Among the most promising local species were Anthocephalus chinensis, Peronema canescens and Parkia roxburghii but their growth was inferior compared to exotics. Eucalypts and pines were not among the highest ranking trees and cannot be recommended for initial grassland reforestation. At the age of 7–8 years the same species were still dominating, but increasing mortality of several species was observed. Especially Acacia crassicarpa and A. cincinnata of the exotics were affected, and indigenous Anthocephalus chinensis almost perished. Since fast early growth is necessary in first rotation reforestation of grasslands, fast growing exotic species provide a reliable basis for further activities. Final performance of reforestation species has to be confirmed in stand-level experiments and pilot plantations. Intensive work on integrating local tree species in reforestation of grasslands in the long run is recommended.

Evaluation of 15 leguminous trees and shrubs for forage and wood production in Tanzania

Fifteen leguminous tree and shrub species were evaluated for production of fuelwood, forage and forage nutrient concentrations. When assessed for survival, growth and biomass yields after 30 months, Acacia crassicarpa, A. leptocarpa, A. auriculiformis, A. torulosa and A. aulacocarpa were the most outstanding. The nutrient concentrations in edible fractions varied greatly among the accessions. While the results indicate that most of the species tested could not supply adequate minerals when used as sole feeds, they could supply valuable supplemental fodder.

Growth at age 30 months of Acacia and Eucalyptus species planted in Imperata grasslands in Kalimantan Selatan, Indonesia

The trials tested a range of establishment techniques for Acacia and Eucalyptus species for pulpwood plantations grown in leached and degraded soils under Imperata grassland (alang alang) in South Kalimantan (Kalimantan Selatan). The results reported here are from measurements at age 30 months. Acacia mangium from Wipim (PNG) had the best growth (57 m 3 ha −1); this was 70–80% greater than A. mangium from Subanjeriji (Indonesia). Apart from Acacia crassicarpa, other acacias grew less well and produced multiple stems. Hybrids of Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla grew exceptionally well and produced an average of 37–46 m 3 ha −1. E. urophylla from Wetar also produced 29 m 3 ha −1. Amongst other Eucalyptus species, fungal infections and insect damage to foliage increased mortality and reduced total volume production. Chemical weed control of Imperata grass was very important for the successful establishment of all species resulting in a doubling of total volume production of A. mangium (from 26 m 3 ha −1 without weed control to 51 m 3 ha −1 with weed control), and an 11-fold increase in total volume production of E. urophylla (from 1.8 m 3 ha −1 without weed control to 21.3 m 3 ha −1 with weed control). Cultivation with a large disc plough increased height growth of A. mangium but had no statistically significant effect on total volume production on this clay loam soil. Fertiliser substantially improved growth of A. mangium producing a total volume of 61 m 3 ha −1 in response to the highest rate of NPK (180, 78, and 150 kg ha −1 of N, P and K, respectively), compared with 41 m 3 ha −1 without fertiliser. There was no response to additional applications of trace element fertiliser to this soil. Slow release fertiliser gave growth responses in A. mangium similar to other fertiliser applied at rates of up to 20 times greater. The enduring and most important treatments with respect to growth of A. mangium in this environment were the selection of Wipim provenance, chemical weed control and NPK fertiliser, each of which contributed between 29 and 38% of total volume production.

Growth potential of twelve Acacia species on acid soils in Hawaii

Reforestation of degraded tropical sites is often hampered by soils of high acidity, high aluminum saturation, and low fertility. To evaluate the possibility of cultivating Acacia species on such soils, a study was conducted at Waiawa, HI, to test growth under conditions of (1) high acidity (primarily aluminum) and nutrient stress, and (2) no acidity stress and high nutrient availability. Twelve Acacia species, including the important native Hawaiian species Acacia koa, were established on a Ustic Kanhaplohumult soil. The experimental design was a split plot with two fertility treatments as the main plots and the 12 Acacia species as subplots. The treatments were: low fertility (F0; 143 kg ha-1 14–14–14 plus micronutrients) and high fertility (F1; 8 Mg ha-1 lime, 143 kg ha-1 14–14–14 plus micronutrients, 200 kg P ha-1, and 77 kg K ha-1). Acacia angustissima, Acacia aulacocarpa, Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia cincinnata, Acacia crassicarpa, Acacia implexa, Acacia koa, and Acacia mangium grew significantly faster under the high fertility treatment. Three species, A. cincinnata, A. crassicarpa, and A. mangium, are recommended for planting on infertile acid soils. The volume of A. koa was increased ten-fold by the high fertility treatment. Additional study on koa's nutritional requirements is suggested in order to identify the nutrients contributing to this increased growth.