Abstract
Eucalypts are the most successful plantation species in the higher elevations of Sri Lanka. They were introduced to Sri Lanka in the latter part of the nineteenth century. The first plantation in Sri Lanka was established in 1890 at an altitude of 1,200–1,800 m. The major species planted in the up-country are Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus microcorys, Eucalyptus robusta, Eucalyptus pilularis and Eucalyptus torelliana. E. grandis is more tolerant than E. microcorys to soils of low fertility. Also, compared with other species, E. grandis has a relatively fast growth rate, especially on marginal lands. The reference age is considered to be 30 years, at which clear felling usually starts. The diameter and the height growth in some areas are extremely high and the recorded total volume production and the maximum mean annual increment are also well above the standard scale. Therefore, compared to other Eucalyptus species, E. grandis is the most suitable species for rotation in the low-fertility and very acidic areas of the up-country of Sri Lanka with some additional silvicultural practices.
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Sivananthawerl, T., Mitlöhner, R. (2011). Eucalyptus grandis and Other Important Eucalyptus Species: A Case Study from Sri Lanka. In: Günter, S., Weber, M., Stimm, B., Mosandl, R. (eds) Silviculture in the Tropics. Tropical Forestry, vol 8. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19986-8_29
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19986-8_29
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