The growth characteristics of Machilus odoratissima Nees in Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Kon Tum provinces

Abstract

Machilus odoratissima Nees has been evaluated to be a tree species having the high economic value. Currently, this species has been planted in some provinces in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the growth characteristics of this species as the basis for selecting suitable afforestation areas. The study results show that tree height, tree diameter, canopy diameter, and tree volume in the 5 year period of forest plantation differed between provinces as well as between surveyed areas in each province. The level of variation in the tree volume average between surveyed areas ranged from 0.0302 m3 in Dak Lak to 0.0677 m3 in Gia Lai with the difference of 0.037 m3. The level of fluctuation in the canopy diameter between surveyed areas ranged 2.10m in Dak Lak to 3.23m in Gia Lai, and the level of difference between these provinces was 1.13m. The degree of fluctuation in the tree diameter between surveyed areas was 10.00 cm in Dak Lak to 13.70cm in Gia Lai with the difference of 3.7cm. The degree of fluctuation in the tree height between surveyed areas was from 6.87m in Dak Lak to 8.97m in Gia Lai with the difference of 2.1m. From the results based on statistical analyses using Anova and t - tests in D1.3, Hvn, Dt, and V, Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces were selected as the most suitable afforestation regions of Machilus odoratissima Nees. In Gia Lai province, Ayun and Dak Taley communes were more suitable
for planting current species, while in Kon Tum province, Kon Ray commune was the suitable area. In Dak Lak, M’Drak district was also selected as the suitable afforest area of Machilus odoratissima Nees.