Planting trials of Shorea roxburghii in Peninsular Malaysia
2003
Ang, L. H. | Ho, W. M. | T. Honma | B. Krishnapillay
Shorea roxburghii produces white meranti timber that is suitable for plywood and furniture manufacturing. It is known as a drought-tolerant species among the meranti groups. However, its plantation potential is yet to be realised in Malaysia. A planting trial of S. roxburghii was established in 1978 at Sungai Buloh Forest Reserve, Selangor. The plot occupies about 200 x 50 m of secondary forest. The growth and yield of the stand were assessed and compared with other dipterocarps. The results showed that this species has a relatively fast growth rate among the dipterocarps. In 2000, it was included in a planting trial comprising 24 potential plantation species. They were planted in eight open plots on grassland covering about 2.6 ha, in Block C1 of Chikus Forest Reserve, Perak. Preliminary results showed that the one-year-old S. roxburghii grown in open plots had a survival rate of 93%. Its growth rate is comparable to that of the fast growers, such as Pterocarpus indicus and Neolamarkia cadamba. The aim of this study is to document the performance of this species in the two planting trials. The potential of this species for reforestation and plantation activities is also discussed.
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