THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLANTING DISTANCE AND GROWTH, ABOVE-GROUND BIOMASS AND FIREWOOD PRODUCTION IN LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA DE WIT AT SAKAERAT, PAK THONG CHAI, NAKHON RATCHASIMA I

Abstract

Height and dbh growth, above-ground biomass and charcoal production were estimated in sample plots of Leucaena leucocephala de Wit with increasing in age from 1 to 4 years and planted at spacing of 1 x 0.5, 1 X 1 and 2 x 2 m. This study was carried out at Re-afforestation Research and Training Center, Sakaerat, Nakhon Ratchasima Province in August 1984.

The highest height growth was occurred at a spacing of 1 x 1m at age 1 and 2 (1.4 and 2.5 m) while a spacing of 2 X 2 m reached the highest height at age 3 and 4 (5.1 and 7.3). The highest dbh growth increased from 1,0 cm at age 1 to 4.9 m at age 4 at a spacing of 2 x 2 m.

Above-ground dry matter at a spacing of 1 x 0.5 m WELLE maximum at age 3 (35.8 t/ha) and spacing of 1 X 1 m was maximum at age 4 (68.8 t/ha).

Firewood production was maximum at a spacing of 1 x 0.5 m at age 3 (110 m³/ha), at age 4 the production from a spacing of 1 x 1 m was the highest (214 m³/ha).