Growth performance of a young teak (Tectona Grandis Linn. F) Stand Under Different Site Preparation Methods and Planting Stocks
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Date
2011-08
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Abstract
Site preparation and the propagative material of plants go a long way to determine the growth
performance and biomass production. This study was carried out to determine the effect of
propagation material on stem growth and form, the best allometric model to estimate aboveground
phytomass of individual Teak trees as well as the impact of site preparation methods on
growth of Teak trees. Two planting stocks (bare rooted stump and potted seedling), and four sites
preparation methods (burnt, un-burnt, fertilized and un-fertilized) were evaluated using the
nested block design in the assessment of the growth performance of a ten year old Teak
plantation.The results obtained indicated that the Teak trees propagated from potted seedling had
41% higher survival compared to those of bare rooted stump. In the site preparation method the
burnt sites had 11% higher survival relative to those in the un-burnt sites. Fertilization did not
have much influence on the survival of the Teak trees demonstrating that there was no significant
difference between sites that were fertilized or un-fertilized (p=0.21) The quality of Teak trees
reflected in the stem form was not affected by both site preparation methods and the planting
stocks.The results showed that the best allometric model for estimating above-ground phytomass
of individual Teak trees was MT=0.3158 (Vs) 1.0806 as the model resulted with the highest
coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.9978). However, Teak trees in the un-burnt sites had higher
growth relative to those in the burnt sites. Also the un-burnt sites accumulated more carbon stock
than those in the burnt sites (p = 0.19) as the undergrowth in the un-burnt sites provided
additional carbon stock from the litter. The results shows that in the cultivation of a Teak
plantation the propagation by potted seedlings planted in an un-burn site with fertilizer
application is the best cultivation method for growth performance and high biomass production.
Description
A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of Master of Science degree in Environmental Science,