Teak Plantations Research Articles

Characterization of Drupe Traits in Sixty-Six Teak Candidate Plus Trees (CPTs) in Gujarat Forests of India for Enhanced Seed Collection and Fruit Production

The most valuable timber of the world i.e., teak was recognized as king of wood due to its wood quality such as durability, physical and aesthetic wood property for multiple uses. It is distributed throughout India and Southeast Asia and known for center of teak genetic diversity. It has a high demand in international market and national market due to multifarious uses. However, the natural population of Teak is decreasing in India due to anthropogenic activities, deforestation, climate change and other environmental factors. In addition, the poor seed yield per tree and extremely low seed germination rates are significant problems for the teak plantation industry and production of quality seed. Nevertheless, there are huge gap between demand and supply of industrial timber in India. This can be fulfilled by the teak plantation within agroforestry systems and degraded forest lands. Gujarat forest has natural teak populations which falls in the conjunction point of Western Ghats of India. Hence, sixty-six CPTs of teak were screened out for quality seed collection and reproduction from natural teak populations. Fruits of teak were collected from various CPTs with wide range of geographic locations in Gujarat forests of India. The drupe and stone morphometric traits were studied to capture the phenotypic and genotypic variations; to select better traits on the basis of repeatability coefficient; and to look geographic location effect on various fruit characters and inter-character correlations for quality seed collection and fruit production. Present result showed significant differences (p≤ 0.0001) in all the studied fruit traits among 66 CPTs of Tectona grandis. Drupe were lengthiest in GJNBD 0467 (12.36 mm), broadest in the GJNBD 0467 (14.75 mm) and heaviest in the GJAH 1056 (0.73 g) CPT, whereas smallest in GJNBD 1122 (8.3 mm), narrowest in GJNBD 1122 (9.91 mm) and lightest in GJNBD 1122 (0.32 g) CPT. Stone were longest in GJNBD 0467 (8.71 mm), thickest in GJAH 1056 (10.01 mm) and heaviest in GJAH 1056 (0.51 g) CPT, while shortest in GJNBD 1122 (6.06 mm), thinnest stone in GJNBD 1122 (7.56 mm) and lightest in GJNBD 0772 (0.22 g) CPT. Overall, GJNBD 0467, GJAH 1056, GJNBD 0950, GJAH 0844 and GJNBD 0470 CPTs were superior for studied traits as compared to others. CPT repeatability coefficient was higher for drupe characters as compared to stone parameters, where selection can be made for drupe length for future tree improvement programme. The genetic improvement via CPT selection is better option for maintaining genetic diversity of Teak, its conservation and management. Latitude showed strong negative correlation with drupe length, stone length and drupe mass. Longitude was negatively correlated with stone length and width. Thus, the geographical parameter has an impact on the seed formation, evolution and plant fitness. The strong correlations were found among seed morphometric characters which influenced to seed development and creating fitness interaction with continuous changing environment.

Assessment of Biomass, Carbon Stock and Sequestered CO2 in Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) Plantation at Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University Campus, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India

Carbon sequestration through tree plantation has significant role to mitigate the increasing level of CO2. Accurate measurement of carbon in teak plantations is required for estimating their contribution to global carbon stocks. The purpose of present work was to assess total biomass, carbon stock and sequestered CO2 in an 18 years old teak (Tectona grandis L. f.) plantation using allometric equations. Estimated total biomass, carbon stock and sequestered CO2 were 79.31, 37.28 and 136.66 t ha-1, respectively. Teak plantations in Chhattisgarh serve an important role in carbon sequestration, which contributes to climate change mitigation. It is a fast-growing species with robust, high-carbon wood, accumulates a substantial quantity of carbon over time. Expanding and sustaining these plants reduces atmospheric CO2 levels while also benefiting the region’s economy through timber production and forest-based livelihoods.

Structures of Forest Stands in Monospecific Reforestations Based on Tectona grandis Lf. (Verbenaceae) in the Sangoué Classified Forest in Côte d’Ivoire

Teak-based reforestation poses the challenge of sustainable development in terms of meeting economic, social and environmental needs. In order to meet the needs of populations for timber and contain anthropogenic pressures on flora, reforestation based on Tectona grandis is initiated in the Sangoué Classified Forest. Therefore, a diagnostic study is therefore essential to assess the effects of this practice on the environment. This study assessed the consequences of planting Tectona grandis on the conservation and restoration of the Sangoué classified forest. For this, the structural and floristic characteristics of teak stands at different stages of evolution were compared. The results showed that young plots have more plant species, are more diverse and more evenly distributed. Older plots have the highest densities and basal areas of stems, with an inverted J-shaped distribution. Young plots have the lowest densities and basal areas, as well as a more regular horizontal structure. The woody species introduced into reforestation are Tectona grandis, Gmelina arborea and Cedrela odorata. In the 33-year-old block, the total basal area value is 18.07 m² per hectare, then 13.72 m² per hectare in the 30-year-old block. As for the 25- and 28-year-old blocks, the basal area values per hectare are 12.61 m2 and 9.39 m2 respectively. Young plots promote natural regeneration and floristic diversity, while older plots present low floristic diversity with reduced structural balance. Introduced species have benefited more from teak planting than native ones. Teak planting may lead to profit, but it presents challenges for biodiversity. The impact of teak planting on the Sangoué classified forest differs depending on the stage of evolution of the stands. Therefore, it has advantages and disadvantages for forest restoration and conservation. The teak plantation needs to be adjusted to forest management.

Gender Role in Teak Plantation at Paklay District Sayaboury Province, Lao PDR

This paper investigates the gender role in teak (Tectona grandis) plantation in Paklay District, Xayaboury Province. There are two objectives of study: 1) to analyze the state of gender equality in plantation activities, and 2) to analyze the satisfaction of men and women in undertaking their plantation responsibilities. This research gathered data from 124 families in the three villages, which corresponded to 100% of those growing teak. The household interview gathered both quantitative and qualitative data using the data management program KOBO toolbox. The results of showed that men and women participate equally in nine of 12 plantation activities (or 75%) being land clearing, soil preparation, planting lines, planting, tree maintenance, pruning-thinning, building a fire break, weeding and marketing (selling). In terms of satisfaction, women expressed themselves to be ‘very satisfied’ on a Likurt scale, whereas men were only ‘satisfied’. It was found that men and women discussed the work required in the teak plantation together and divided their responsibilities in accordance with whether the work was perceived to be light or heavy and with bodily strength of those in the household. The gender equality and mutual respect between the sexes from this cooperation meant that both men and women were satisfied.

Aboveground biomass estimation models for Tectona grandis Linn f. plantation in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

Tree biomass is considered a useful indicator of structural and functional attributes of forest ecosystems across a wide range of environmental conditions. The aboveground biomass refers to the living vegetation above the soil, including stem, stump, branches, bark, seeds, and foliage. Teak (Tectona grandis Linn f.) is a popular exotic tree species in Nigeria; it is widely grown in both large scale and small community woodlots. The objective of this study was to develop models for estimation of biomass content of Teak plantation in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria for sustainable management. Data on the diameter at breast height (D) and total height (H) of all teak stands in the plantation were recorded. Non-destructive method using an existing equation was used to estimate the aboveground biomass (AGB) of the individual stands from stump diameter. The Data was subjected to descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation analysis and fitted to six (6) linear regression functions. A total of 295 trees were measured with mean AGB of 18.61 kg. Out of the AGB prediction models developed for the study area, the Semi Log 3 (B5) model had the best predictive ability; with the highest adjusted coefficient of determination (0.984) and the lowest standard error of estimate (0.308), and Akaike information criterion (-690.974). Model B5 (B=0.764+0.764D-0.105lnH) is therefore recommended for future inventory and management of the plantation.

Modeling dominant height growth of teak plantations in the Caribbean region of Colombia

Identifying sites with adequate biological productivity is a critical factor in ensuring timber production and the profitability of forest-based investments. The productivity of forest sites is influenced by climatic, edaphic and topographic variables, as well as by silvicultural practices. Site index is a phytocentric method widely used to assess site productivity and its estimation is based on dominant height growth modeling. Teak is the fifth most planted forest species in Colombia, and its importance is associated with high economic returns and profitability. This study aims to model dominant height growth using the generalized algebraic difference approach for teak plantations established in the Caribbean region of Colombia. The Lundqvist-Korf model, in which the correlation of the residuals was handled with a continuous autoregressive specification of the first order, resulted in a satisfactory statistical estimation of the dominant height growth. The results indicate that in the Caribbean region of Colombia, productive sites for the establishment of teak plantations can be found as productive as in some tropical American countries and better than some sites in Asian countries. This suggests a potential for the expansion of teak plantations and forest-based investments in Colombia.

Modeling Forest Above-Ground Biomass of Teak (Tectona grandis L. F.) Using Field Measurement and Sentinel-2 Imagery

Over the last few decades, remote sensing has emerged as a dependable and cost-effective method for collecting precise data on forest biophysical parameters, aiding in sustainable forest management and global initiatives to combat climate change. This research aimed to develop a model for estimating the above-ground biomass (AGB) of Teak (Tectona grandis L. F.) by combining field measurements with Sentinel-2 earth observation data. The study took place in 36-year-old teak plantation areas within the Sagarnath Forest Development Project in Nepal’s Sarlahi district. Field measurements were conducted using a destructive systematic sampling method, employing 10 × 10 m2 sample plots, and the volume of logs was determined using Newton’s formula. A total of 30 sample plots were used for calibration, while 10 were utilized for validation purposes. The findings revealed that the average AGB per plot was 814 kg (equivalent to 81.4 t ha−1), with a minimum value of 716 kg (71.6 t ha−1) and a maximum value of 1,060 kg (106 t ha−1). The study utilized five independent variables, namely, the Red band, Green band, Blue band, near-infrared (NIR), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values from Sentinel-2 imagery data, to develop estimation models. Among the 12 models examined, model M10 proved to be the best fit for accurate AGB estimation (adjusted R2 = 0.9809, RMSE = 0.01269, AIC = −170, and p-value = < 8.39e−21). The equation of the best-fitted model was ln (AGB) = A + B × Red + C × Green + D × Blue2 + E × ln (NIR) + F × ln (NDVI), providing an accurate estimate of AGB. Model validation involved a t-test comparing the observed and calculated AGB values for ten sample plots, demonstrating no significant difference (p-value = 0.3662 > 0.05). This model has the potential to facilitate AGB biomass calculations and carbon stock estimates for teak plantations of similar age groups.

Growth, Yield, and Stem Quality of Tectona grandis Grown with Different Spacings at Longuza Forest Plantation, Tanzania

Spacing is a silvicultural practice that affects the growth of trees in forest plantations. However, the yield depends on growth, which is determined by spacing. In addition, spacing influences the quantity of the final crop available for harvesting, specifically in forest plantations for sawlog production. Spacing is also used as a management practice to control the quality of trees, as dense stands are expected to have trees with good stem quality. However, little has been done to address the effects of spacing on the growth, yield, and stem quality of Tectona grandis until final harvesting age. Teak plantations in Tanzania are grown at a rotation age of 20 years. Thus, this study aimed to assess the effect of spacing on the growth, yield, and stem quality of 24-year-old T. grandis in a Longuza Forest plantation in Muheza, Tanzania. Data were collected from a spacing trial using a randomized complete block design with three treatments: 2 m × 2 m, 3 × 3 m, and 4 m × 4 m, with three replications. The growth and yield parameters assessed were diameter at breast height (dbh) total tree height, and stem quality. Data were analyzed to obtain the basal area, volume, and mean annual increment. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple comparisons among treatment means were performed using Tukey's honest significant difference test (p-value = 0.05). The results showed that spacing did not significantly affect growth and yield parameters. The stem quality was significantly different in some treatments. The highest dbh and height growth were observed at 4 m× 4 m spacing. The highest values of basal area, volume, and mean annual increment were observed at a 3 m× 3 m spacing. Stem quality differed significantly between the 2 m× 2 m and 4 m× 4 m spacings. Because teak plantations in Tanzania are aimed at sawlog production, it is recommended to continue practising a spacing of 3 m× 3 m, which will ensure a higher mean annual increment with a higher volume at the stand level. In addition, a spacing of 3 m × 3 m ensured a higher percentage of trees with good stem quality.

Blockchain-based Traceability for Teak Identity: A Transformational Approach

The Southern regions of India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Indonesia are where teak originated. Teak is a high-value wood that used to be an export good for Thailand, bringing in a lot of money. Thailand produced approximately 71,954.53 m3 of teak plantation timber and exported wood products worth 1.1 billion baht overseas in 2018, according to the Forest Industry Organization (FIO). Due to its high demand, there is also a chance that smuggled wood from within the country or wood that has been illegally obtained abroad will enter the supply chain. Encroachment and illegal logging are still major problems in Thailand. Blockchain technology has become extremely popular due to its distinctive immutability and traceability properties, which have the opportunity to overcome a variety of issues. In order to get rid of illegal teak timber and achieve traceable, transparent, and reliable teak data that is moved through the teak supply chain, we present a decentralized application (DApp) based on the Ethereum blockchain that implements a traceability system for teak identity. According to the findings of the experiment, our DApp achieves a good trade-off between the system’s gas cost of 116K (2.53 USD) to store data in the Ethereum blockchain and provide high security, transparency, privacy, resilience, and robustness. We observed that the newly proposed blockchain-based system can reduce illegal logging, the usage of paper-based documentation, and the time needed to validate the documentation in teak supply chain controls when we compared it to the traditional process used in the supply chain.

Teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f) and Edaphic Factors Affecting the Regeneration of Woody Species and Their Functional Traits in Economic Forest Plantation, Northern Thailand

Improved understanding of relationships among plant traits, stand characteristics, and soil properties can provide insights into the regenerating tree communities of commercial teak plantations. We investigated whether plant traits could be used to predict the natural regeneration of woody species in teak plantations with different soil and stand conditions. Data were collected in fifty 20 m × 20 m plots that were established in teak plantations of varying ages in northern Thailand. We analyzed differences in stand characteristics, soil properties, and community-level functional traits among sites. The RLQ analysis was performed to explore the associations among species abundances, plant traits, and a combined set of soil variables and stand characteristics. Our results showed that tree species with high leaf dry matter contents and high wood density dominated communities in an older teak plantation and were associated with high OM and N concentrations. Trees with larger leaves are increased in plantations that had experienced their first teak thinning, and were rich in organic matter. Species with high specific leaf areas increased in sites with high teak basal areas and which had experienced more intense thinning on fertile soils. Thick-leaved species had high importance values on sites with high densities of teak and infertile soils. Our results indicated that tree communities with similar conspecific traits were associated with specific soil and stand conditions in teak plantations. A knowledge of these regeneration dynamics may allow forest managers to encourage increased natural regeneration and enhanced diversity in commercial teak plantations.

Exploring Carbon Sequestration Potential Across Various Clones in Teak Plantation

A study conducted during August, 2019- February, 2020 forty year old clonal teak plantation in Manchikere, Karnataka, showed substantial carbon sequestration potential across eight distinct clones, emphasizing the promising role of genetic diversity in enhancing carbon capture. The clone studied were MyHaD1, MyHaD4, MyHaV1, MyHaV3, MyHaK2, MySA1, MyHuT1and MyMK3.The recognition and propagation of superior clones are crucial for enhancing carbon sequestration, aiding in the absorption and storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide.The diverse performance observed among the eight clones in the clonal teak plantation underscores the critical role of genetic diversity in shaping key parameters such as girth at breast height, volume, and biomass accumulation. Measurements of volume, aboveground biomass (AGB), belowground biomass (BGB), and soil carbon stock, along with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) levels, were conducted. Carbon sequestration potential per tree varied, with all individuals contributing 395.56 t ha-1. MySA1 showed the highest potential (3.85 t), followed by MyHaD4 (3.08 t), and MyHaV1 recorded the least (1.46 t). Soil analysis revealed available N, P, and K concentrations, and the total carbon sequestration rate was 69.55 tha-1. The organic carbon (OC) content was 1.98% and 1.61%. This emphasizes the importance of factoring in both genetic diversity and soil nutrient dynamics to optimize carbon management in teak plantations effectively.

Effects of intercropping teak with Alpinia katsumadai Hayata and Amomum longiligulare T.L. Wu on rhizosphere soil nutrients and bacterial community diversity, structure, and network.

Teak is a precious hardwood species in tropical and subtropical regions with a long growth cycle and slow economic returns. Intercropping medicinal plants is an effective method for obtaining early returns during the growth period of teak. However, currently, we lack sufficient knowledge about the impact of intercropping on the soil microenvironment, especially on rhizosphere soil bacterial communities. We selected two medicinal plants Alpinia katsumadai Hayata and Amomum longiligulare T.L. Wu, for an intercropping experiment with teak, and the non-intercropping teak forest area was used for comparison. By collecting soil rhizosphere samples and conducting 16S rDNA sequencing and property analysis, we aimed to investigate the influence of teak intercropping on soil microbial communities. The results showed that intercropping significantly improved soil nutrients contents, such as soil organic matter, soil total potassium and soil available nitrogen, and significantly altered bacterial community structure. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that intercropping tightened the connections of the soil bacterial network and increased its complexity (by increasing the number of nodes and the proportion of positive edges). Teak intercropping with Amomum longiligulare T.L. Wu resulted in tighter network connections than teak intercropping with A. katsumadai Hayata. Changes in the soil bacterial community structure may related to environmental factors such as total potassium content and pH. These results demonstrated that the introduction of medicinal plants exerts a significant impact on the soil bacterial community of teak, fostering the enrichment of specific bacterial taxa (such as Firmicutes and Methylomirabilota), and makes the rhizosphere bacterial network denser and more complex. This study provides valuable insights for the management of teak plantations.

Dynamics of Species Richness in Understory Deciduous Teak Forest (Tectona grandis)

Teak plantation forest is a deciduous forest that sheds its leaves during the dry season. It is generally a secondary forest that is managed in a monoculture manner so that it is homogeneous. However, when teak sheds its leaves, it that may impacts the dynamics of understory species changes due to differences in environmental factors growing in the dry and wet seasons. The study observed 90 plots carried out over a year, namely two times during the dry season and 2 times during the wet season. We placed three transects around the forest edge, each (9 transects), and plotted 1 m × 1 m plots. Data collection was carried out at distances of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 m on each transect. In each plot, the composition of the understory vegetation cover, litter cover and soil bare was observed. The research was also observed canopy openness and collected rainfall data for one year from the nearest Meteorology station. Species found were recorded for identification based on origin, life form, original habitat, and seed dispersal. The study‘s results found 57 species, 16 species only in DS, then 17 species only in WS, and 24 in both seasons. The dynamics of changes in these species are influenced by the season, which will affect the environment around the plant. Seasonal differences impact light intensity, canopy openness, leaf fall and growth, and litter thickness, which impact the understory diversity and abundance.

Productivity of Clonal Teak Plantation Under Different Spacing and Thinning Intensity in Java Monsoon Forest

Intensive silviculture plays a crucial role in selecting superior clones with high productivity. The use of superior clones needs to be accompanied by appropriate environmental conditions. The arrangement of growing space is one way for teak clones to grow optimally and produce quality wood products. It can choose initial spacing in the early growth phase and thinning intensity in the later growth phase. This study aims to assess and determine the growth of superior teak clones with different thinning intensities at different planting distances to optimize the growing space. Optimizing growth space also has the potential for intercropping under the stand to produce more diverse products. The research design was a Split-plot design with three blocks as replications. The main plots had four spacings, including 3 m x 3 m, 6 m x 2 m, 8 m x 2 m, and 10 m x 2 m. Subplots were thinning intensity, including 0% thinning (control), 25% thinning (moderate thinning), and 50% thinning (heavy thinning). The results showed that spacing could significantly affect diameter growth. Silvicultural thinning showed significant differences in diameter growth, CADI, height, and volume per hectare. The diameter growth showed higher growth at larger spacing and higher thinning intensity, while the volume per hectare was low. The tree height parameter increased with the thinning intensity. The CADI after two years of thinning increased by 14–42% at 25% thinning intensity and increased by about 35–48% at 50% thinning intensity compared to no thinning at each spacing. Meanwhile, the volume per hectare was lower at wider spacing and decreased at a high thinning intensity. These results indicate an increase in spacing, and thinning accelerates diameter growth and provides better-growing space for intercrops.

Genotyping SNPs in lignin biosynthesis gene (CAD1) and transcription factors (MYB1 and MYB2) exhibits association with wood density in teak (Tectona grandis L.f.).

Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.), an important source of tropical timber with immense economic value, is a highly outcrossing forest tree species. 150 unrelated accessions of teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) plus trees assembled as clones at National Teak Germplasm Bank, Chandrapur, Maharashtra, India was investigated for association mapping of candidate lignin biosynthesis gene (CAD1) and transcription factors (MYB1 and MYB2). The CAD1, MYB1 and MYB2 were amplified using specifically designed primers. The amplified sequences were then sequenced and genotyped for 112 SNPs/11 indels. We evaluated the association between SNPs and wood density in teak accessions using GLM and MLM statistical models, with Bonferroni correction applied. The teak accessions recorded an average wood density of 416.69kg.m-3 (CV 4.97%) and comprised of three loosely structured admixed sub-populations (K = 3), containing 72.05% genetic variation within sub-populations with low intragenic LD (0-21% SNP pairs) at P < 0.05 and high LD decay (33-934bp) at R2 = 0.1. GLM and MLM models discounting systematic biases (Q and K matrices) to avoid false discovery revealed five loci at rare variants (MAF 0.003) and three loci at common variants (MAF 0.05) to be significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the wood density. However, the stringent Bonferroni correction (4.06-7.04 × 10-4) yielded only a single associated locus (B1485C/A) from exon of MYB1 transcription factor, contributing to about 10.35% phenotypic variation in wood density trait. Scored SNP locus (B1485C/A) can be developed as a molecular probe for selection of improved planting stock with proven wood density trait for a large-scale teak plantation.

Efektivitas Penambahan Limbah Kotoran Sapi Dalam Pengolahan Kompos Dari Limbah Daun Jati Menggunakan EM-4 Di Desa Tuksono Kecamatan Sentolo Kabupaten Kulonprogo

Tuksono Village is in Sentolo District, Kulon Progo Regency with a population of 8,560 people in 2021 and almost all Tuksono village residents have teak plantations of around 100 hectares. Large teak plantations produce dry teak leaf waste, this is because the adaptation of teak trees in the summer is to shed their leaves. So teak leaf waste is produced every dry season and causes problems for the surrounding environment. With these problems, efforts are needed to process teak leaf waste and based on the composition of teak leaves, it can be processed into compost. In the process of composting teak leaf waste with the addition of cow dung, the C, N and C/N ratios still do not meet SNI 19.7020-2004. This is because teak leaves have a relatively high carbon content, so for the composting process of teak leaves it is not enough to just add cow dung but requires additional materials that can increase the nitrogen content such as urea or banana stem waste. The most optimal composting results are obtained from comparing the composition of teak leaf waste and cow dung from 400 g of teak leaf waste: 100 g.

Growth stress and wood properties of 10-year-old fast-growing teak grown in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta

Abstract The establishment of fast-growing teak plantations in Indonesia provides opportunities for shorter harvesting periods. However, it also poses challenges on wood utilization due to juvenility and growth stress-related defects. This study investigated growth stress levels and some wood properties of 10-year-old fast-growing teak grown in Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta. The strain gauge method was used to measure longitudinal surface released-strains (LRS), tangential surface released-strains (TRS), and longitudinal internal residual strains (IRS). Wood specimens were also collected near each strain measurement point for the analysis of wood properties. The results showed LRS values ranging from −1243 to 320 με, TRS values ranging from −779 to 382 με, and IRS values ranging from −589 to 786 με. Meanwhile, radial variations in fiber length, modulus of elasticity, and lignin content were observed. Significant correlations were found between IRS values and microfibril angle, fiber length, modulus of elasticity, lignin content, and hemicellulose content, while no significant correlations were observed between LRS and TRS values and wood properties. These findings suggest a moderate level of growth stress. Additionally, the results also indicate that this 10-year-old fast-growing teak is still in the juvenile stage. Therefore, its utilization should be performed with caution.

Teak‐Soil Interaction: Teak (Tectona grandis) Plantations Impact and are Impacted by Soil Properties and Fertility in Southwestern Ghana

Teak (Tectona grandis) is one of the most widely established plantation species globally due to its potential for degraded forest restoration, timber supplementation, and easing pressure on natural forest resources. However, the extent to which plant‐soil interactions in teak plantations impact tree growth and productivity and soil nutrient dynamics is not well understood. This study assessed the impact of teak plantations on soil physicochemical properties as well as the influence of soil properties and fertility on teak growth. The study was conducted in teak plantations aged 5, 10, 15, 20, and over 20 years and an adjacent natural forest remnant. We established three 25 m × 25 m plots in each teak plantation and recorded the diameter at breast height (DBH), height, crown length, and depth of all trees. We collected 54 soil samples at 0–20 cm depth and analysed them for 29 soil parameters. The study revealed that teak plantations resulted in a decline in soil N (45%–81%) and available P (63%–98%) concentration, while soil pH improved by 0.41–0.64 units. However, soil organic carbon, K, Mg, Ca, and Na concentrations and their ratios were unaffected with teak plantations over time. Also, soil textural characteristics, acidity, and nutrient ratios were observed to influence tree‐related characteristics such as DBH and crown dimensions (crown, diameter, breadth, length, and volume). Three principal components (PC1, PC2, and PC3) explained 69% of the overall variability and were significantly related to tree crown parameters, height, and diameter at breast height. We concluded that site selection and tailored integrated soil fertility management for each plantation age are critical to sustainable teak production as teak plantations both affect and are affected by soil properties. The study recommends the adoption of management practices aimed at maintaining soil nutrient balance to ensure the long‐term growth and ecological sustainability of teak plantations.

Vegetation Structure Characteristics and Carbon Stock of Mixed Deciduous Forest in Protected Area of Teak (Tectona grandis) Plantation, North Forest Industry Organization

Vegetation Structure Characteristics and Carbon Stock of Mixed Deciduous Forest in Protected Area of Teak (Tectona grandis) Plantation, North Forest Industry Organization

Establishment of Tree Species Community in Abandoned Teak Plantation of North Forest Industry Organization

Establishment of Tree Species Community in Abandoned Teak Plantation of North Forest Industry Organization