Effects of paddy-bund-planted eucalyptus trees on performance or field crops
1988
Craig, I.A. | Manit Saenlao (Northeast Rainfed Agricultural Development (NERAD) Project)
Eucalypt planting on the bunds began in 1982 and is still continuing and the current age-structure of the trees varies from seedlings right through to 5 year old trees, 30 meters tall with trunk-girths of up to 25 centimeters in diameter. Utilization to date has been restricted to limited use of branches for crop-staking, fuelwood and charcoal. In 1987, poor growth was reported by farmers and field assistants in the pre-rice kenaf and peanut trials in the vicinity of mature Eucalyptus trees. Data on crop performance were collected throughout the plant growth period for both early season crops and the wet season rice crop. Pre-rice, kenaf crop-growth was markedly reduced in the vicinity of the trees, and the effect extended for a distance for a distance of up to 20 meters into the crop. Plants close to the eucalypts were stunted and failed to thrive. The addition of higher rates of fertilizer did not compensate for reduced growth caused by the eucalypts, and cutting the trees did not solve the problem, at least in the short-term. In the case of peanuts, growth was retarded, maturity delayed and germination was reduced up to 15 meters from the trees. Both kenaf and peanut plants further away from the trees appeared normal. The yields of both crops were markedly reduced with increasing proximity to the trees. Yields of the following rice crops were also reduced by the presence of eucalypts but in a less consistent manner.
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This bibliographic record has been provided by Thai National AGRIS Centre, Kasetsart University
