Growth Performance of Different Tree Species Grown under Industrial Agroforestry System in South Gujarat, India

Abstract

Fast growing tree species with multipurpose benefits such as plywood, pulpwood, timber and fuel wood are suitable for undertaking plantation or agroforestry model with focus to provide wood for industrial needs. Thus, in the recent scenario the fast-growing species has attracted greater attraction by farmers, foresters and plantation growers. Hence, the plantations of fast growing, short rotation woody trees like Casuarina equisetifolia, Melia dubia, Eucalyptus globulus, Leucaena leucocephala is gaining more importance across the south Gujarat region. The fundamental hypothesis of the present experiment was to estimate growth parameters like, Height, Girth and Crown spread of species after five years to find out performance of these four tree species. Maximum tree height found in Eucalyptus globulus (13.84 m), maximum tree girth found in Leucaena leucocephala (44.22 cm), maximum tree Crown spread (E-W) found in Eucalyptus globulus and Leucaena leucocephala (1.97 m) while maximum tree Crown spread (N-S) found in Eucalyptus globulus (1.96 m).