Comparative Performance of Multipurpose Tree Species Growing at Degraded Site

Abstract

Comparative growth performance in a three age-series plantations of 15 MPTs at degraded site was revealed that tree species namely B. retusa, L. leucocephala, A. altissima, B. ceiba, G. robusta, M. composita, U. laevigata and A. oblongum have excelled in height and diameter growth over the remaining tree species e.g. A. catechu, A. nilotica; T. arjuna, T. chebula, T. bellerica and Q. leucotrichophora up to 9 years of tree growth. Maximum height and diameter growth was attained by M. composita where values were 7.23 and 9.41 cm, respectively up to 9 years of growth. The minimum height was obtained for T. chebula during the same duration. Leaf area index (LAI) ranged between 1.14 and 2.50 for all the MPTs with G. robusta recording the highest (2.50) while T. chebula the lowest (1.14). Tree species with higher LAI have excelled in growth performance over the species with lower LAI.