Benica JayasekaraAs 2006043

4th Year

Khaya senegalensis Family Meliaceae African mahogany Fast growing in dry

conditions. 20-30m height Hard, dense, reddish

brown timber.

1 of the major timber sp. in reforestation programs in Sri Lanka.

Introduced from Africa in 1960’s.

Excellent growth rates in intermediate & dry zones.

Good timber for furniture.

Reforestation in dry zone. Fast growth rates. Community like Khaya than

teak. Khaya tolerates,

Poor site quality Heavy weed competition Harsh conditions Diseases Pests (except borer)

Excellent timber for furniture. Deep red brown wood. Can be sawn easily. Takes good polish. Weight up to735kg/m3. Bark has a medicinal use. Shady. No elephant damage.

1st Rotation 2nd Rotation

According to the F.D. Khaya selected as the best tree sp. for the dry zone reforestation in Sri Lanka.

But there are few challenges.

CHALLENGES

FERTILIZATION

LESS SEED

VIABILITY

FIRES

BLACK TWIG

BORERPORCUPINES

RED STEM

BORER

MULTIPLE SHOOTS

WEEDING

EXPENSIVE SEEDS

Seeds quickly loose their viability. Unavailability. Import from Senegal. 1 seed = Rs. 20At the nursery,Seeds mother bed seedling

Fresh seed poly bag

seedling

READY TO PLANT AT SITES

saw

At the nursery & plantation at early stages.

Remove additional shoots in seedling leaving one vigorous shoot to develop.

AT THE PLANTATION, Sites in dry zone

Mechanical land preparation

Pit preparation (2.5m * 2.5m

spacing)

Plant (with north-east monsoons)

1 month

Fertilize (until 5 years)

1 year

Weeding (until 2 years)

Pruning

Degraded sites. Essential until 2 years. For best results (5

years)Only if F.D. has money.

Reduce competition. Protect from porcupines. Clear 1m radius circle around

seedling. Low slashing for other area.

Black twig borerXylosandrus compactus(6 months –3 years) Red stem borerZeuzera coffeaePlants of 5 months – 3 years

Results1) Stunted growth2) Multiple shoots3) Poor wood quality4) Poor wood recovery

For borer attacks,1) Treat with ,

CarbofuranEndosulfuran

2) Burn affected seedlings.3) Regular monitoring.4) Prune extra secondary shoots.

Fire belts .*10m wide gravel roads around the

plantation.* 6m wide gravel roads inside the

plantation. Immediate actions for fires.

For best seeds,1. Select better mother trees.2. Establish seed orchards.3. Improve seed production.4. Further studies on vegetative

propagation of Khaya. For borer attack,1. Regular monitoring.2. Treat with relevant insecticide.3. Destroy affected plants.

Mannakkara,A. & Alawathugoda,R.M.D.(2005), Black twig borer damage for forest tree species, The Sri Lanka Forester, Volume 28(new series),65-75.

Mannakkara,A. & Alawathugoda,R.M.D.(2005), Seed propagation & vegetative multiplications of Khaya senegalensis, The Sri Lanka Forester, Volume 28(new series),77-84.

Mannakkara,A.(2004), Red stem borer attack in forest plantations in Sri Lanka, Forest research newsletter,2.

Weerawardane, N.D.R.(2004), Strategies for improvement of reforestation in the dry zone, Forest research newsletter,4.

Mannakkara,A.(2004), Black twig borer damage in forest nurseries, Forest research newsletter,6.

Mannakkara,A.(2005), vegetative propagation of Khaya senegalensis, , Forest research newsletter,2

Personnel communication Mr. Nishantha Edirisinghe, Assistant conservator of

forests, Forest Department, Battaramulla.