Research on structure and generation of Madhuca pasquieri forest in Ha Trung district, Thanh Hoa province

Abstract

Madhuca pasquieri is a multi-functional indigenous tree species with high economic value. In nature, there is very rare forest ecosystem with high density of this species. The study was conducted based on data collected from 54 plots with an area of 1000m2 (40 ´ 25m) in three forest status: Mainly M. pasquieri forest, M. pasquieri-Erythrophleum fordii forest and E. fordii-M. pasquieri forest. In each plot, there are five sub-plots with areas of 25 m2 (5 ´ 5m) was established to study forest regeneration. The results showed that M. pasquieri is the dominant species with high number of species richness index, from 63.7 - 68.9%. E. fordii is the species that always occur together with M. pasquieri by the species richness index of 5.5 - 34.7%. The number of timber species in this forest ecosystem is low, ranging from three to eight species. Although E. fordii does not dominate by numbers of population, but with features of exceptional height and huge canopy (3 times more than other species), E. fordii is creating certain effects on the light condition, spaces and living condition of other forest species, especially M. pasquieri. The density of regenerated trees ranges from 2,910 to 3,131 trees/ha. The number of regenerated tree for M. pasquieri species is highest, but most of tree are small and under cover of bush and grass which lead to low potential to become a wood tree. Most of best generated trees are E. fordii and this species have potential to become next wood tree generation of forest. Silviculture measurement should be taken in to account to support and promote the regeneration of M. pasquieri species to maintain the stability of the forest ecosystem.