Journal article
Mixed species plantations: prospects and challenges
Forest Ecology and Managent, Vol.233(2-3), pp.383-390
2006
Metrics
222 File views/ downloads
69 Record Views
Abstract
<p>About 2% of English-language literature on plantations deals with mixed-species plantations, but only a tiny proportion (<0.1%) of industrial plantations are polycultures. Small landholders are more innovative, with 12% of Australia’s farm forestry plantations under mixed-species plantings, and 80% of Queensland’s farm forestry as polycultures. We examine reasons for this discrepancy, and explore the history, silviculture and economics of polycultures. Financial analyses suggest that a yield stimulus of 10%, depending on product and rotation length, may be sufficient to offset increased costs associated with planting and managing a mixed-species plantation, a stimulus that has been demonstrated in many field trials. We conclude that the main obstacle to commercial uptake of polycultures in industrial plantations may be the lack of operational-scale demonstrations coupled with reliable financial analyses.</p>
Details
- Title
- Mixed species plantations: prospects and challenges
- Creators
- J Doland Nichols - Southern Cross UniversityMila Bristow - Southern Cross UniversityJerome K Vanclay - Southern Cross University
- Publication Details
- Forest Ecology and Managent, Vol.233(2-3), pp.383-390
- Identifiers
- 1027; 991012820333102368
- Academic Unit
- Science; Forest Research Centre; School of Environment, Science and Engineering; Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Resource Type
- Journal article