Establishment Techniques at Koetong Pianation, Victoria: A Multivariate Analysis and Comparison

SUMMARY

Large-scale field trials of broadcast burning and hand planting and of windrowing followed by both machine and hand planting of radiata pine were carried out in 1963 at Koetong plantation, Victoria, on three supposedly different sites. A study established in 1969 compared the growth of radiata pine for these different sites and techniques of establishment. Multivariate analysis of variance and canonical analysis were used to analyse the experimental data.

Very strong growth occurred on the ash beds within windrows. Growth on sites between windrows was better after machine planting than after hand planting, mainly because machine planting reduced weed competition

Judged by the predominant tree height, stocking and basal area per hectare at age six years, windrow construction and machine planting between windrows was superior to broadcast burning and hand planting, which in turn was superior to windrow construction and hand planting between windrows.