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The Effect of Mixed Plantation on the Stand Yield and Soil Attributes of Eucalyptus globulus and Acacia decurrens in North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia

Received: 3 August 2021    Accepted: 19 August 2021    Published: 28 October 2021
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Abstract

Eucalyptus plantation has been playing essential task in narrowing the gap between the supply and demand for wood and wood products in the region. Though eucalyptus is fast-growing and has a better survival rate compared to other exotic species, there is a claim that Eucalyptus species overexploiting the nutrients and water. This consequently led to land degradation and soil fertility decline. Hence, it is important to develop mixed plantations to minimize the gap of monocultures. This study aimed to select Acacia decurrens-Eucalyptus Camaldulensis mixed plantation to obtain better woody yield and improve site productivity than sole plantation. A. decurrens and E. camladulensis seedlings were planted with the proportions of: 0%:100%, 100%:0%, 25%:75%, 75%:25% and 50%:50%. The experiment was set in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that the tree height and total volume not varied significantly between the mixed and pure stand plantations. Soil nitrogen varies significantly between the treatments. The plantation with 50% E. camaldulensis and 50% A. decurrens proportion had higher total nitrogen, organic carbon and organic matter in the soil. Lined up with the experiment, the farmers agreed that the 50% E. camaldulensis with 50% A. decurrens plantations had relatively a better economic benefits and soil improvements. Further inquiry is necessary to know the contribution of each species in soil nutrient addition. Investigation of the mixed plantation of exotic and native species is essential to balance economic and environmental benefits.

Published in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Volume 10, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.aff.20211005.13
Page(s) 183-188
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

E. camaldulensis, A. decurrens, Mixtures, Growth, Yield

References
[1] Alemie, T. C, (2009). The effect of Eucalyptus on crop productivity and soil properties in the Koga watershed, Western Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Unpublished M.Sc. thesis, Cornell University.
[2] Baber, S., Ahmad, M., and Bhatti, A. (2006). The effect of Eucalyptus camaldulensis on soil properties and fertility. Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, 1 (3): 47-50.
[3] Bauhus, J., Aaron, P., van Winden, and Adrienne B. Nicotra., 2004. Aboveground interactions and productivity in mixed-species plantations of Acacia mearnsii and Eucalyptus globules. Can. J. For. Res. 34: 686–694.
[4] Cao, Y., Fu, S., Zou, X., Cao, H., Shao, Y., and Zhou, L. (2010). Soil microbial community composition under Eucalyptus plantations of different age in subtropical China. European Journal of Soil Biology, 46 (2): 128-135.
[5] Castro-Diez P., Fierro-Brunnenmeister N., Gonzalez-Munoz, N., and Gallardo, A. (2011). Effects of exotic and native tree leaf litter on soil properties of two contrasting sites in the Iberian Peninsula. Plant and Soil, 350: 179-191.
[6] Dessie, G. & Erkossa, A. T. (2011). Eucalyptus in East Africa, Socio-economic and environmental issues. FAO, Planted Forests and Tress Working Papers, Working Paper FP46/E, Forestry Department, FAO, Rome, Italy.
[7] Duguma, L. A. & Hager, H. (2010). Consumption and species preference for house construction wood in central highlands of Ethiopia-implications for enhancing tree growing. Journal of Forestry Research, 21, 104-110.
[8] Engda, T. A., Kassahun, H. T., Collick, A. S., Adissu, T., Ashagrie, B. B., Tessema, Z. K., Derebe, A., Solomon, D. & Steenhus, T. S. 2008. Soil Properties and Fertility Status Dynamics of North Western Ethiopia as Influenced by Land Use Changes: Case of Dibanke Watershed.
[9] Fisher, R. F., and Binkley, D. (2000). Ecology and management of forest soils (3rdedn). New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons.
[10] Kaye, J. P., Resh, S. C., Kaye, M. W., Chimmer, R. A., 2000. Nutrient and carbon dynamics in a replacement series of Eucalyptus and Albizia trees. Ecology 81, 3267-3273.
[11] Leite, F. P., Silva, I. R., Ferreira, R., de Barros, N. F., and Neves, L. J. C. (2010). Alterations of Soil Chemical Properties by Eucalyptus Cultivation in Five Regions in the Rio Doce Valley. Forest Ecology and Management, 1: 821-831.
[12] Tererai, F., Gaertner, M., Jacobs, S. M., and Richardson, D. M. (2014). Eucalyptus Camaldulensis invasion in Riparian Zones reveals few Significant Effects on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties. River Research and Applications, 7 (4): 1-12. Doi: 10.1002/Rra.
[13] Reza ZO, Allahdadi I, Mazaheri D, Akbari GA, Jahanzad E, Mirshekari M. 2013. Effect of different planting proportions and nitrogen fertilizer in intercropping forage sorghum and lima bean. African J Agri Res 8: 6488-6498.
[14] Sayyad E, Hosseini SM, Mokhtari J, Mahdavi R, Jalali SG, Akbarinia M, Tabari M. 2006. Comparison of growth, nutrition and soil properties of pure and mixed stands of Populus deltoides and Alnus subcordata. Silva Fennica 40: 27-35.
[15] Vanclay, J. K., 2006. Designing a trial to evaluate mixed plantings of forest trees. 559 Forest Ecology and Management doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2006.05.020.
[16] Wingfield, M., Slippers, B., Hurley, B., Coutinho, T., Wingfield, B. & Roux, J. (2008). Eucalypt pests and diseases: growing threats to plantation productivity. Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science, 70, 139-144.
[17] Zerfu, H. (2002). Ecological impact valuation of Eucalyptus plantations in comparison with agricultural and grazing land-use types in the highlands of Ethiopia Doctoral thesis. Institute of Forest Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna.
[18] Zhang H, Jiang Y, Song M, He J, Guan D. 2020. Improving understanding of carbon stock characteristics of Eucalyptus and Acacia trees in southern china through litter layer and woody debris. Sci Rep. 2020 Mar 13; 10 (1): 4735.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Melese Bekele, Lemma Habeteyohannes, Getabalew Teshome, Damtew Ababu, Abeje Tedila, et al. (2021). The Effect of Mixed Plantation on the Stand Yield and Soil Attributes of Eucalyptus globulus and Acacia decurrens in North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 10(5), 183-188. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20211005.13

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    ACS Style

    Melese Bekele; Lemma Habeteyohannes; Getabalew Teshome; Damtew Ababu; Abeje Tedila, et al. The Effect of Mixed Plantation on the Stand Yield and Soil Attributes of Eucalyptus globulus and Acacia decurrens in North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia. Agric. For. Fish. 2021, 10(5), 183-188. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20211005.13

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    AMA Style

    Melese Bekele, Lemma Habeteyohannes, Getabalew Teshome, Damtew Ababu, Abeje Tedila, et al. The Effect of Mixed Plantation on the Stand Yield and Soil Attributes of Eucalyptus globulus and Acacia decurrens in North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia. Agric For Fish. 2021;10(5):183-188. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20211005.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.aff.20211005.13,
      author = {Melese Bekele and Lemma Habeteyohannes and Getabalew Teshome and Damtew Ababu and Abeje Tedila and Reta Eshetu and Mesafint Minale and Hailemariyam Fisha and Haile Shiferaw},
      title = {The Effect of Mixed Plantation on the Stand Yield and Soil Attributes of Eucalyptus globulus and Acacia decurrens in North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia},
      journal = {Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries},
      volume = {10},
      number = {5},
      pages = {183-188},
      doi = {10.11648/j.aff.20211005.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20211005.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aff.20211005.13},
      abstract = {Eucalyptus plantation has been playing essential task in narrowing the gap between the supply and demand for wood and wood products in the region. Though eucalyptus is fast-growing and has a better survival rate compared to other exotic species, there is a claim that Eucalyptus species overexploiting the nutrients and water. This consequently led to land degradation and soil fertility decline. Hence, it is important to develop mixed plantations to minimize the gap of monocultures. This study aimed to select Acacia decurrens-Eucalyptus Camaldulensis mixed plantation to obtain better woody yield and improve site productivity than sole plantation. A. decurrens and E. camladulensis seedlings were planted with the proportions of: 0%:100%, 100%:0%, 25%:75%, 75%:25% and 50%:50%. The experiment was set in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that the tree height and total volume not varied significantly between the mixed and pure stand plantations. Soil nitrogen varies significantly between the treatments. The plantation with 50% E. camaldulensis and 50% A. decurrens proportion had higher total nitrogen, organic carbon and organic matter in the soil. Lined up with the experiment, the farmers agreed that the 50% E. camaldulensis with 50% A. decurrens plantations had relatively a better economic benefits and soil improvements. Further inquiry is necessary to know the contribution of each species in soil nutrient addition. Investigation of the mixed plantation of exotic and native species is essential to balance economic and environmental benefits.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - The Effect of Mixed Plantation on the Stand Yield and Soil Attributes of Eucalyptus globulus and Acacia decurrens in North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia
    AU  - Melese Bekele
    AU  - Lemma Habeteyohannes
    AU  - Getabalew Teshome
    AU  - Damtew Ababu
    AU  - Abeje Tedila
    AU  - Reta Eshetu
    AU  - Mesafint Minale
    AU  - Hailemariyam Fisha
    AU  - Haile Shiferaw
    Y1  - 2021/10/28
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20211005.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.aff.20211005.13
    T2  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
    JF  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
    JO  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
    SP  - 183
    EP  - 188
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5648
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20211005.13
    AB  - Eucalyptus plantation has been playing essential task in narrowing the gap between the supply and demand for wood and wood products in the region. Though eucalyptus is fast-growing and has a better survival rate compared to other exotic species, there is a claim that Eucalyptus species overexploiting the nutrients and water. This consequently led to land degradation and soil fertility decline. Hence, it is important to develop mixed plantations to minimize the gap of monocultures. This study aimed to select Acacia decurrens-Eucalyptus Camaldulensis mixed plantation to obtain better woody yield and improve site productivity than sole plantation. A. decurrens and E. camladulensis seedlings were planted with the proportions of: 0%:100%, 100%:0%, 25%:75%, 75%:25% and 50%:50%. The experiment was set in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that the tree height and total volume not varied significantly between the mixed and pure stand plantations. Soil nitrogen varies significantly between the treatments. The plantation with 50% E. camaldulensis and 50% A. decurrens proportion had higher total nitrogen, organic carbon and organic matter in the soil. Lined up with the experiment, the farmers agreed that the 50% E. camaldulensis with 50% A. decurrens plantations had relatively a better economic benefits and soil improvements. Further inquiry is necessary to know the contribution of each species in soil nutrient addition. Investigation of the mixed plantation of exotic and native species is essential to balance economic and environmental benefits.
    VL  - 10
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Centre, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia

  • Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Centre, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia

  • Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Centre, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia

  • Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Centre, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia

  • Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Centre, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia

  • Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Centre, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia

  • Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Centre, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia

  • Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Centre, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia

  • Bahir Dar Environment and Forest Research Centre, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

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