Growth and form of provenances of Eucalyptus saligna at Wondo Genet, southern Ethiopia

Summary

A trial testing 10 provenances from across the natural range of Eucalyptus saligna and a local land race was established at Wondo Genet, southern Ethiopia. Eight years after planting, survival, tree height, diameter at breast height over bark, stem form, number of forks, height to the first fork, number of branches, branch diameter and branch angle were assessed. Volume per hectare was also calculated. Survival ranged between 36% (a provenance from 87 km north of Windsor, NSW) and 79% (Consuelo Tableland, Queensland), and differences were significant (P < 0.05). Among morphological characteristics, only the number of branches showed significant variation (P < 0.05), with the greatest number (12.4) being recorded for the Bulahdelah, NSW, provenance and the least (8.5) for the Clyde River, NSW, provenance. Major growth and morphological parameters (tree height, diameter, volume and stem form) did not differ significantly. The overall volume production (mean annual increment 26.4 m³ ha⁻¹) was well above the minimum acceptable growth observed on good sites elsewhere. Differences between provenances were small and mostly not significant, and no pattern of geographic variation was detected. Given the acceptable mean annual increment, those provenances represented by an adequate number of parent trees could be maintained for further selection and breeding, and to maintain genetic diversity of the species in Ethiopia.

Keywords:

• provenance trials
• growth
• stem form
• habit
• Eucalyptus saligna
• Ethiopia