Annual Research Review 2004 OVERVIEW
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Institute for Commercial Forestry Research Annual Research Review 2004 OVERVIEW Twenty years ago, the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR) was inaugurated on 13 September 1984. It evolved from the Wattle Research Institute (WRI) which was established in 1947. The ICFR is presently the only privately funded forestry research institute in South Africa and is funded by direct contributions from companies and organisations in the forestry industry. The research All correspondence should undertaken by the ICFR concentrates on all the applied aspects of be addressed to: commercial timber growing and is conducted in close collaboration The Director Institute for Commercial Forestry with the growers. In setting research priorities the ICFR Research accommodates recommendations from its Board of Control, a PO Box 100281, Scottsville, 3209 Management Committee and Project Steering Committees. It is South Africa Telephone +27 (33) 386 2314 through these mechanisms and the active participation of the Fax +27 (33) 386 8905 Support Groups of the ICFR that the research activities are kept relevant for both present and anticipated problems in the industry. The ICFR is located on the Pietermaritzburg campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Sabie Office PO Box 204, Sabie, 1260 Telephone +27 (13) 764 2393 764 3284 / 764 1122 Fax +27 (13) 764 3284 Kwambonambi Office PO Box 59, Kwambonambi, 3915 Telephone +27 (35) 550 3451 Cell phone 082 808 4414 Internet e-mail: [email protected] World wide web: http://www.icfrnet.unp.ac.za Photographic credits: Unless otherwise stated, all photographs and graphics used in this publication are the property of the ICFR. © Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, 2005 ISBN 0-620-33616-1 Indemnity: The recommendations contained in the ICFR Annual Research Review are based on the results of research conducted at the ICFR and reflect our current understanding of the complex interrelationships involved. The ICFR reserves the right to subsequently modify recommendations in the light of new evidence from ongoing research and no guarantees are provided, either explicitly or by implication. The ICFR must be acknowledged whenever information contained in this document is reproduced or used in any form. Page 2 Annual Research Review 2004 CONTENTS Board of Control ................................................................. Foreword ............................................................................ Director’s Report................................................................ Acacia Tree Improvement .................................................. Programme Overview Acacia Breeding Sterile Wattle Species Testing Acknowledgements References Outputs Eucalypt Tree Improvement ............................................... Programme Overview Tree Improvement in Eucalyptus nitens Tree Improvement in Eucalyptus macarthurii Tree Improvement in Eucalyptus dunnii Tree Improvement in Eucalyptus smithii Tree Improvement in Eucalyptus badjensis Zululand species - Eucalyptus henryi and E. longirostrata Flowering Research and Seed Production References Outputs Plantation Re-establishment Research .............................. Programme Overview Vegetation Management Coppice Management Wattle Regeneration Pine and Eucalpt Regeneration Research Re-establishment Research Core Project Pine Fusarium Working Group Outputs Forest Nutrition .................................................................. Programme Overview Site Management for Sustained Productivity Hardwood Nutrition Softwood Nutrition Nutritional Sustainability (Core) Outputs References Forest Productivity ............................................................. Programme Overview Growth Modelling and Yield Optimisation Sustainable Forest Management Site-species Interaction Core Funding Innovation Fund Mensuration and Modelling Research Consortium (MMRC) Outputs ICFR Outputs .................................................................... ICFR Trials ........................................................................ Summary of Current Trials ................................................. ICFR Staff Annual Research Review 2004 Page 3 Board of Control standing L-R: Patrick Kime (NCT), Philip Day (MCC), Rob Pallett (Sappi), Bruce Hulett (Mondi), Prof. Peter Zacharias (UKZN), Siggie von Fintel (TWK). seated L-R: Edwin Schramm (CTC), Mike Edwards (FSA), Prof. Charles Breen (Chairman), Prof. Colin Dyer (Director), Lorraine McNamara (GFP). absent: Botha Maree (HMH), Dinga Mncube (Sappi), Kevin Cazalet (Mondi). ICFR Members Forestry South Africa (FSA) Global Forest Products (GFP) Komatiland Forests (KLF) Masonite Africa Ltd Mondi Business Paper NCT Forestry Co-operative Ltd (NCT) Northern Timbers Sappi Forests Sappi Usutu Singisi Forest Products SiyaQhubeka Forests Mimosa Central Co-operative (MCC) The Central Timber Co-operative (CTC) TWK Agriculture Ltd (TWK) Page 4 Annual Research Review 2004 Foreword This year the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR) celebrated twenty years of service to the industry. Key players in the industry continue to support the ICFR by way of core and direct project funding. This indicates strong appreciation for the efficiencies that are achieved by defining and addressing collective national needs in ways that will secure competitive advantage in the international forest products industry. In essence the ICFR is a ‘knowledge broker’, simultaneously serving both the collective interests of the industry and those of competitors within the industry. It does this by providing knowledge products generated through sound scientific research and an expert advisory service that assists the industry to respond to emerging challenges. Professor Charles Breen, Chairman of the ICFR International competition is growing and the South African forest Board of Control products industry is challenged to retain competitive advantage in an era where information is freely exchanged and in which newly acquired knowledge has such a short lifespan before it becomes ‘common knowledge’. Not only must knowledge be generated and implemented more quickly than before, it must also be broadened to address new needs. Following discussions with Forest Engineering South Africa, the ICFR Board of Control resolved to establish a new research programme in forest engineering that will focus on harvesting, transport, roads and work science. This decision reflects our conviction that the ICFR through well directed and conducted research can effect significant savings for the forest products industry and enhance its progress towards environmental sustainability. On behalf of the Board of Control it is my pleasure to congratulate the Director and his staff on their achievements during 2004. We are proud of the recognition they are given among peers, and of their service to the industry. Prof. Charles Breen Chairman, Board of Control. Annual Research Review 2004 Page 5 Director’s Report It gives me pleasure to present the 2004 Annual Research Review for the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research. As in previous reports, the outputs from the research programmes are covered in detail in the following sections of this document. I would like to highlight some of the special initiatives that have been undertaken at the ICFR over the past twelve months, and outline the support functions that enable research to be undertaken in an efficient and cost-effective way. The ICFR is focussed on serving the South African forest industry in two ways: through the maintenance of forestry research infrastructure that is available to all of its members; and, through conducting industry-directed research. Forestry South Africa (FSA) Professor Colin Dyer supports the former through its core funding of the ICFR. Direct Director of the ICFR project funding from the forestry companies and organisations drives the research at the ICFR, which is wholly owned and funded by the private forestry industry. The outputs from the ICFR over the past twelve months have been extensive, both in quantity and quality (see Outputs section later in this document). We produced: 25 ICFR bulletins (peer-reviewed, technical reports on the research projects), 16 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals (plus another five submitted for publication), 11 papers in conference proceedings, and more than 100 presentations at field days and workshops. Of course these can only be produced from a range of well- maintained research trials spread over a range of sites and species (see Trial Status Table). A key feature of the ICFR is the applied research conducted on behalf of its members, and field days provide an important technology transfer mechanism. At the start of 2004, the ICFR embarked on a consolidation of its field days, both as a means of ensuring maximum value for the members and to avoid unnecessary duplication. Field days are now focussed on four regions in the summer rainfall area: Mpumalanga, the Central Region around Piet Retief and the highveld, Zululand and the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. The ICFR together with its research partners, present two field days per region per year. The dates and venues for the field days are available on the ICFR website and summaries of the talks are available to members (www.icfrnet.unp.ac.za). Forestry South Africa has placed special emphasis on supporting emerging timber growers in South Africa. As part of this initiative, Page 6 Annual Research Review 2004 the ICFR is developing easy-to-use technical brochures as