KFRI Research Report S7 STUDIES ON SELECTED INDIGENOUS SPECIES FOR FUTURE PLANTATION PROGRAMMES IN KERALA K.K.N. Nair K.C. Chacko A.R.R. Menon George Mathew M.I. Mohamed Ali R.C. Pandalai KERALA FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE PEECHI, THRISSUR 1991 Pages: 193 CONTENTS Page File Abstract 4 r.s7.2 1 Introduction 5 r.s7.3 2 Objectives 10 r.s7.4 3 Materials and Methods 17 r.s7.5 4 Albizia odoratissima 35 r.s7.6 5 Grewia tiliifolia 59 r.s7.7 6 Haldina cordifolia 83 r.s7.8 7 Lagerstroemia microcarpa 103 r.s7.9 8 Pterocarpus marsupium 122 r.s7.10 9 Xylia xylocarpa 144 r.s7.11 10 General Observations 166 r.s7.12 11 Conclusion and Recommendations 182 r.s7.13 12 Literature Cited 186 r.s7.14 ABSTRACT This report contains data gathered while evaluating the plantation potentials of six moist deciduous species indigenous to the State of Kerala. The species investigated are A. odoratissims (L.f.) Benth., Grewia tiliifolia Vahl, Haldina cordifolia (Roxb.) Taub. , Lagerstroemia microcarps Wt., Pterocsrpus mar-supium Roxb. and Xylia xylocarpa. (Roxb. ) Taub. Apart from the silvicultural and plantation trial aspects of the six species delt with, the report also includes details on the pest and disease incidences in the natural stands, nurseries and trail plantations of a11 the six species and control measures for those potential pests and pathogens observed either in the nursery or in the plantation trial experiment. Supplementing the data on the above mentioned aspects of the investigation, information gathered on the botanical, ecological, and wood anatomical and utilization aspects of the six species based on studies in their natural populations in Kerala are also provided. 4 1. INTRODUCTION Traditionally, production forestry is focussed on the monoculture of a few species aimed at producing wood for industrial uses. Becuase of this, at present, almost 85% of the total forest plantations in the tropics are of eucalypts, teak and pines (Evans, 1982). India is also not an exception to this. There are mainly two reasons for the preference of exotic species in earlier forest plantation programmes. The main reason is that, in the past, forest plantations were mostly raised as industrial plantations to meet the raw material demand of paper and pulp industries, for which exotics like ecualypts were preferred. The other reason for establishing large scale plantations of exotics was the ready availability of sufficient information on their plantation aspects. Coupled with these two reasons, in the past, there was also adequate supply of timber of most of the indigenous species and hence, there was no need to consider the local species in a plantation perspective, and at the same time area under plantations of exotics went on increasing to reach the present level. Of late, there is a growing awareness with regard to the need for raising indigenous trees on a plantation scale. This is mainly due to the dwindling supply of timber of such species to meet the increasing local demand. Therefore, it is imperative that adequate research and experimental background has to be generated in countries where such indigenous timber trees grow naturally, which are the proven eco-climatic zones of such species. The project 'Studies on selected indigenous species 5 for future plantations programmes in Kerala is a step in this direction. Indigenous species are those which grow naturally in a country though not necessarily in all parts and certainly not suited for all areas. With such species, there are no political or quarantine restrictions to hinder their use in any plantation programme in their native countries, and added to this, there are certain important biological advantages, like: i. Growth of such species in natural areas can provide sufficient indication of their possible performance in plantation. ii. Such species are well suited to the environment and are falling within an ecological niche of the country which will render them less susceptible to serious damages from pests and diseases, since controlling agents (predators, viruses, climatic factors, etc.) are already present. iii. Indigenous species, even in monoculture, are generally considered ecologically more suited than exotics for the conservation of native flora and fauna. iv. Timber of indigenous species is more familiar and comnonly used by the local people and also industrial wood consumers of the reglon. For such reasons, if the plantation potential of Indigenous species is worked out and demonstrated by establishing experimental plantations, such species will certainly be used in the future plantation programmes in their home countries. There are also a number of examples to support this view, like Pinus merkusii in Indonesia, Araucaria hunstinii in Papua New Guinea, 6 Tectona grandis in India and Burma, Terminalia ivorensis in West Africa, Cordia alliodora in Central America, and so on. In this multi-disciplinary project, it is envisaged to investigate the plantation potential and related aspects of six species of well known timber value, indigenous to the moist deciduous forests of Kerala, and to assess their feasibility as plantation species in the State, either as monoculture or as mixtures among them. Evolving suitable silvicultural methods for large scale raising of seedlings and to assess the performance of each of the species In plantation are the two main thrust areas of this investigation. Establishment of an experimental plantation containing all the six species in pure and different combinations among them, to serve as a demonstration plot was also envisaged in this study. Other related aspects which received attention include gathering details on the botany and ecology of the species, wood anatomical studies and assessment of log quality in three different parts of Kerala where the species grow naturally and also evolving suitable control measures against serious pests or pathogens identified either in the nursery or in the plantation trial experiment. The species selected for the investigation are: I. Albizia odorat issima (L.f. ) Benth. (Mimosaceae) - Kunni-vaka ii. Grewia tiliifolia Vahl (Tiliaceae) - Chadachi iii. Haldina cordifolia (Roxb.) Rldsd. (Rubiaceae) - Manja-kadambu iv. Lagerstroemia microcarpa Wt. (Lythraceae) - Venthekku v. Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. (Papi lionaceae) - Venga vi. Xylia xylocarpa (Roxb.) Taub. (Mimosaceae) - Irul 7 Among the six species mentioned above, A. odoratissima yeilds hard and heavy timber used mainly In construction and as furniture and panelling wood. Timber from G. tiliifolia is also heavy, but more elastic, often used to make shafts, frames, agricultural implements and as furniture wood. 'Haldu', the timber of H. cordifolia, is moderately strong and hard, very commonly employed for structural works, flooring and turnery. Very hard and strong tlmber of X. xylocarpa iswell known for railway sleepers and in construction work. Wood of L. microcarpa is much valued as construction timber as well as in boat and ship building. In southern India, the very hard and heavy timber of P. marsupium is quite popular for building construction and as a substitute for teak in making a variety of items like beams, shafts, posts, etc. and in the manufacture of railway carriages. In this report, apart from the general introductory part, chapters like project proposal, details on the objectives of the study and methodology adopted for various aspects of the investigation are given. Data gathered on different aspects of each of the species are arranged species-wise. For each of the species, details on its botany and natural distribution in Kerala and ecological aspects like species association in natural stands and regeneration status in natural areas are given first. This is followed by details on wood anatomy and log quality parameters of each of the species. Data gathered on the silvicultural and plantation aspects follow, and information on pests and diseases associated with all the six species in their natural stands, nursery and in the plantation trial experiment and control strategies for potential ones among them form the last part of the account on each of the species. General observations, conclusions and recommendations emerged from the study are given towards the end of the report followed by an alphabetical list of references cited in the text. Scientists who did different aspects of the investigation are, i. Dr. K.K.N. Nair (Botanical aspects), ii. Shrl K.C. Chacko (Silviculture and plantation trials), iii. Dr. A.R.R. Menon (Ecological aspects), iv. Dr. K.V. Bhat (Wood anatomy and utilization), v. Dr. George Mathew (Pest problems and control) and vi. Shri M.I. Mohamed All (Disease problems and control). 9 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY Following are the decipline-wise objectives of the investigation. 2.1. Botanical studies In order to provide basic information on the distribution and taxonomy of each of the species and to facilitate their easy identification and correct naming, the component of botanical study envlsages the following objectives. - to map the natural distribution of each of the species in the State, - to record the natural variatlons within each species and to prepare taxonomic descriptions and illustrations of it, authenticated by voucher specimens, and - to establish an arboretum containing all the species under study. 11 2.2. Silvicultural studies and plantation trials Choice of suitable species is a very important aspect in any plantation programme and species selected will influence silvicultural and management practises and utilization of the crop. The purpose of plantation, availability of planting material and site characteristics are the three basic aspects to be considered in species selection. Kerala has a forest area of 9,400 km2 of which 48% is covered by evergreen and semievergreen and 30.5% by moist deciduous forests. Most of the moist deciduous areas are either degraded or devoid of sufficient regeneration. This provides opportunity for planting Important indigenous species in such areas. At present, teak contributes to about 50% of the forest plantations in Kerala, whereas, all other indigenous species together constitute only 20% (Kerala Forest Department, 1989).