Planting and Early Maintenance

Abstract

The correct choice of species to plant will determine the level of success of any plantation enterprise, no matter what the purpose of the plantings being made. If the primary objective of the plantation is to produce pulpwood for a large paper factory then there will be a need for high yields of a material of uniform size and quality with wood properties acceptable to the pulp and paper technology being employed. On the other hand a plantation being established in an arid region to minimise soil erosion and to provide wind protection will dictate the use of different species. Here we will be looking for species resistant to drought, preferably long lived and with a crown configuration which will give the wind protection required. In yet other situations, such as amenity plantings, the main selection criteria might include colour, texture and seasonal interest of a mixture of species. Thus, the choice of a species to plant in any particular situation depends on a wide range of factors, including the size and purpose of the plantings, the site and climate, the level of establishment investment and the equipment which may be available. More extensive treatments of this topic can be found in FAO (1958), (1979b), Burley and Wood (1976).