Growth of Different Eucalypts Clones Planted on Paddy Bunds

Abstract

Eucalypt clones planted on paddy bunds in Chachaengsao province were compared at two sites, Ban Huai Pleek, Phanom Sarakham district (21 rai) and Ban Nhong Kanai, Sanam Chai Khet district (29 rai). Both sites were cultivated with one crop of rain-fed rice annually. 

Four eucalypt clones (K51, K58, K59 and K7) from the Eucalyptus Technology Company (Eu-Tech) were planted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications (two in a north-south and two in an east-west direction). All clones were planted in August 2005, in a single row with spacing of 1 m between trees.

Two and three years after planting, there were significant differences in bole length and growth biomass at Ban Nhong Kanai. There was also a significant difference in bole length, but no significance different in growth biomass at Ban Huai Pleek. At three years, the K58 clone showed the best growth performance in total biomass (27.50 kg/tree at Ban Huai Pleek and  27.80 kg/tree at Ban Nhong Kanai), followed by K59, K7 and K51 (17.70, 16.50 and 15.10 kg/tree at Ban Huai Pleek and 23.80, 19.60 and 15.10 kg/tree at Ban Nong Kanai, respectively). At the same time, the K51 clone showed the longest bole length (6.39 m at Ban Huai Pleek and 7.53 m at Ban Nhong Kanai), while K58 had the shortest bole length at both sites (3.51 m at Ban Huai Pleek and 6.12 m at Ban Nhong Kanai). 

The results of rice production from four planting seasons (2005-2008) sampled at each site showed no significant differences between eucalypt clones planted on paddy bunds and no trees on paddy bunds in the 2005, 2006 and 2008 cultivation seasons. Rice production in 2007 showed a significant difference between eucalypt clones on the paddy bund and no trees on the paddy bund, with the lowest rice production from the area with no trees on the paddy bund (0.94 kg/4 m² at Ban Huai Pleek and 1.32 kg/4 m² at Ban Nhong Kanai).

There was no correlation between rice production and cultivation season, or between rice production and the growth performance of eucalypt clones planted on paddy bunds.

 Keywords: eucalypts, agroforestry, clone, paddy bund, growth