UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

EFFECTS OF THINNING ON GROWTH AND SAP FLOW IN NINE-YEAR-

OLD AZADIRACHTA EXCELSA (JACK) IN MERLIMAU, MELAKA, MALAYSIA

ROSDI KOTER

FH 2007 7

EFFECTS OF THINNING ON GROWTH AND SAP FLOW IN NINE-YEAR-OLD AZADIRACHTA EXCELSA (JACK) IN MERLIMAU,

MELAKA, MALAYSIA

By

ROSDI KOTER

Thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the

Degree of Master of Science

July 2007

To My Wife, Patahayah Mansor and Children, Hafidz, Haziq, Hakeem, Haris and Nureen Asiah

2

Abstract of thesis presented to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science

EFFECTS OF THINNING ON GROWTH AND SAP FLOW IN NINE-YEAR-OLD AZADIRACHTA EXCELSA (JACK) IN MERLIMAU,

MELAKA,MALAYSIA

By

ROSDI KOTER

July 2007

Chairman : Associate Professor Ahmad Ainuddin Nuruddin, PhD Faculty : Forestry

Since 1997, the forest plantation in Malaysia has gained further momentum

with the inclusion of selected indigenous species for forest plantation

development. Considering the size of plantations being established, the need

for studies on silvicultural operation is widely recognized. Until now, except

for Acacia mangium, there was no specific model on silviculture and

maintenance of each species being planted in Malaysia. The objectives of

this study were to quantify the effects of thinning regime on the diameter

growth, stand volume and crown structure and to determine the effect of sap

flow of thinned and unthinned A. excelsa stands.

The study was conducted in the, Sime Darby Estates, Merlimau, Melaka.

The A.excelsa stands were planted at an initial spacing of 3 x 4 m (833 stem

ha-1) over 2 hectares in May 1995. There were two treatments used for this

study; unthinned as control and moderate thinning, where 50% of the stand

3

were felled systematic according to lines. In addition sap flow velocity of

selected trees in both treatments were measured using heat pulse probe

connected to data logger.

During the study, the achieved mean diameter at breast height of A. excelsa

was 14.30 ± 0.81 cm and the mean of the potential final crop trees (300 trees

ha-1) of 18.99 ± 0.78 cm. The mean periodic annual diameter increment was

1.87 ± 0.07 cm year-1 before thinning and 1.60 ± 0.08 cm year-1 23 months

after thinning. The periodical annual diameter increments are not

significantly different between plots after 23 months. The diameter increment

is still increasing indicating that the growth of the species has not reached

the optimum rate.

The response to thinning also includes the effect on the expansion of the

crowns. Results presented from this trial have indicated that the thinning has

a positive effect on crown development in which thinned A.excelsa stand

reached up to 6.5 m in length, as compared with the unthined treatment up to

5.0 m. The crown length increment was significantly, being greater by

quantify by 30% in the thinned plot. The crown radial of both unthinned and

thinned stand varied from 0.2 to 3.6 m and 0.1 to 4.2 m respectively.

The amount of water loss in the thinned stand was significantly higher than

those in the unthinned plot, 0.53 liter/hour compared with 0.32 liter/hour

respectively. The rate of water loss for A. excelsa at thinned stand was

higher than those from unthinned stand with a total of 12.02 liters and 10.27

4

liters over day respectively. Higher soil moisture content was also observed

in thinned plot compared to unthinned plot.

This study provides useful information on the growth of A.excelsa due to

thinning activities by creating the gap opening and the water loss implication

after thinning was undertaken. Such information is useful in making long-term

growth projections with growth adjusted to variation of microclimate within the

stand.

5

Abstrak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Putra Malaysia sebagai memenuhi keperluan untuk ijazah Master Sains

KESAN PENJARANGAN KE ATAS PERLADANGAN SENTANG (Azadirachta excelsa (Jack).)

BERUMUR 9 TAHUN DI MERLIMAU, MELAKA, SEMENANJUNG MALAYSIA

Oleh

ROSDI KOTER

July 2007

Pengerusi : Profesor Madya Ahmad Ainuddin Nuruddin, PhD Fakulti : Perhutanan Sejak tahun 1997, perladangan hutan di Malaysia telah berkembang ke

peringkat yang lebih intensif. Mengambilkira kepada saiz ladang yang

menunjukkan pertambahan dari segi keluasan dan adalah perlu diberikan

penekanan terhadap penyelidikan di dalam operasi silvikultur. Hingga kini,

masih tiada model silvikultur dan penyelenggaraan yang khusus untuk

spesies pokok yang di tanam secara ladang di Malaysia kecuali untuk Acacia

mangium. Objektif kajian ini dijalankan ialah untuk mengukur kesan

penjarangan ke atas pertumbuhan diameter, isipadu dirian, bentuk batang

dan struktur dan untuk mengenalpasti kesan penggunaan air di dalam dirian

yang dijalankan penjarangan dan tidak dijalankan penjarangan.

Kajian ini telah dijalankan di Estet Sime Darby, Merlimau, Melaka. Dirian ini

telah ditanam pada bulan Mei 1995 dengan jarak awal 3 x 4 m (833 pokok

/ha) di kawasan seluas 2 ha. Kajian dijalankan untuk menentukan kesan

penjarangan ke atas pertumbuhan pokok dan penggunaan air.

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Purata pencapaian diameter paras dada ialah 14.30 ± 0.81 cm. Manakala

potensi pokok akhir (300 pokok/ha) mencapai purata diameter sebanyak

18.99 ± 0.4 cm. Pertambahan diameter tahunan didapati tidak menunjukkan

perbezaan yang bererti antara tahun dan plot dengan purata pertambahan

diameter tahunan ialah 1.87 ± 0.07 sm per tahun sebelum penjarangan dan

1.60 ± 0.10 sm per tahun selepas dua tahun penjarangan. Pemerhatian juga

menunjukkan pertambahan purata diameter tahunan masih meningkat dan

belum lagi mencapai tahap kemuncak.

Kesan penjarangan juga dapat diperhatikan ke atas pertambahan silara.

Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa penjarangan telah memebrikan kesan

yang positif terhadap perkembangan silara di mana dirian yang dijalankan

penjarangan mencapai 6.5 m tinggi silara berbanding dengan dirian tanpa

penjarangan yang hanya mencapai 5.0 m tinggi silara. Perbezaan ini

menunjukkan terdapat pertambahan sebanyak 30% apabila penjaranagn di

jalankan. Jejari silara pula menunjukan nilai dari 0.2 hingga 3.6 m dan 0.1

hingga 4.2 m masing-masing untuk dirian tanpa penjaranagn dan yang

dijalankan penjarangan.

Keputusan juga menunjukkan bahawa kadar kehilangan air adalah tinggi

iaitu sebanyak 12.024 liter berbanding dengan yang tidak dilakukan

penjarangan (kawalan) iaitu dengan kadar 10.273 liter dalam sehari. Kadar

purata kehilangan air menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan bererti di mana

penggunaannya ialah sebanyak 0.53 liter/sejam bagi petak penjarangan

manakala 0.32 liter/sejam bagi petak kawalan. Kandungan kelembapan air

7

tanah juga didapati tinggi di petak yang dijalankan penjarangan berbanding

petak kawalan.

Kajian ini dapat dijadikan asas dalam menyediakan data pertumbuhan

sentang kesan dari penjarangan yang mengakibatkan pembentukan ruang

hutan dan kadar kehilangan air selepas penjarangan dijalankan. Kesemua

maklumat ini amat berguna dalam membuat perancangan masa hadapan

melalui unjuran pertumbuhan berasaskan kepada variasi mikro-iklim di

dalam dirian.

8

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to express my most sincere and deepest thanks to the Chairman of my

Supervisory, Associate Professor Dr. Ahmad Ainuddin Nuruddin for his

valuable guidance, advice, encouragement, constructive criticisms and

suggestions throughout the study. I also wish to express my sincere thanks

to the other committee members, Associate Professor Dr. Mohd. Zaki

Hamzah and Dr. Ab Rasip Ab Ghani for their guidance rendered.

Grateful acknowledgement is due to the Director General of Forest Research

Institute Malaysia (FRIM) Dato’ Dr. Abdul Razak Mohd Ali for his permission

and encouragement to undertake this programme. I also acknowledge the

permission granted by Sime Darby Plantation, Merlimau, Malacca for

allowing me to use the study site. Sincere thanks are due to the staff of the

Forest Plantation Program, FRIM especially to Dr. Ahmad Zuhaidi Yahya, Dr.

Hashim Mohd Noor, Mohd Noor Mahat and Mohd Zaki Abdullah and also the

staff of the Silviculture Unit and Hydrology Unit for assistance in data

collection and analysis.

Finally, I would like to dedicate this work to my parents, my wife Fatah and

my children Hafidz, Haziq, Hakeem, Haris and Nureen, who without their love

and devotion, this study would not have been completed. I love you all!

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I certify that an Examination Committee has met on 13th of July 2007 to conduct the final examination of Rosdi Koter in his Master of Science thesis entitled “Effect Of Thinning On Nine Years Old Azadirachta Excelsa (Jack) Plantation In Merlimau, Melaka, Peninsular Malaysia” in accordance with Universiti Putra Malaysia (Higher Degree) Act 1980 and Universiti Putra Malysia (Higher Degree) Regulations 1981. The Committee recommended that the candidate be awarded the relevant degree. Members of the Examination Committee are as follows: Azani Alias, PhD Associate Professor Faculty of Forestry Universiti Putra Malaysia (Chairman) Norani Abd Shukor, PhD Professor Faculty of Forestry Universiti Putra Malaysia (Examiner) Lai Food See, PhD Associate Professor Faculty of Forestry Universiti Putra Malaysia (Examiner) Aminuddin Mohamad, PhD Professor School Of Forestry Universiti Malaysia Sabah (External Examiner)

_______________________________ HASANAH MOHD GHAZALI, PhD Professor/Deputy Dean School of Graduate Studies Universiti Putra Malaysia Date:

10

This thesis was submitted to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia and has been accepted as fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science. The members of the Supervisory Committee were as follows: Ahmad Ainuddin Nuruddin, PhD Associate Professor Faculty of Forestry Universiti Putra Malaysia (Chairman) Mohd Zaki Hamzah, PhD Associate Professor Faculty of Forestry Universiti Putra Malaysia (Member) Ab Rasip Ab Ghani, PhD Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) (Member) ________________________ AINI IDERIS, PhD Professor and Dean School of Graduate Studies Universiti Putra Malaysia Date: 13 December 2007

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DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the thesis is based on my original work except for quotations and citations which have been duly acknowledged. I also declare that it has not been previously or concurrently submitted for any other degree at UPM or other institutions.

________________________ ROSDI KOTER Date: October

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TABLES OF CONTENTS

Page

DEDICATION 2 ABSTRACT 3 ABSTRAK 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 9 APPROVAL 10 DECLARATION 14 LIST OF TABLES 15 LIST OF FIGURES 16 LIST OF ABREVIATIONS 17

CHAPTER

I INTRODUCTION 19 General introduction 19 Forest plantation in Malaysia-background 19

Problem statements 22 Objectives 24 Hypotheses

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II LITERATURE REVIEW 25 The current status of forest plantation programme in Malaysia 25 Introduction 25 Future direction of forest plantation in Malaysia 27 Forest plantation species 29 Azadirachta excelsa (Jack). Jacobs 29 Thinning 38 Thinning trial experiences on plantation species 42 Sap flow 43 III METHODOLOGY 46

Site description 46 Study site 46 Climate and rainfall 46 Sentang stand 50 Experimental approach 51 Data collection 54 Tree measurement 54 Diameter measurement 55 Total tree height and crown-length measurement 55 Potential Crop Trees (PCT) 57 Crown radial and diameter 57 Basal area 58 Stem and stand volume 58

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Periodic annual diameter increment 59 Meteorology parameters 59 Heat pulse velocity technique 60 Data logger 63 Data analysis

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IV RESULTS 65 Growth and yield 65 Basal area and volume increment 65 Potential crop trees (PCT) 69 Crown structure 70 Diameter class distribution 71 Diameter increment 73 Sap flow 74

V DISCUSSIONS 78 Growth and yield 78

Basal area and volume increment 83 Potential crop trees (PCT) 84 Crown structure 85 Diameter increment 86 Sap flow 88 Soil Moisture 90

VI CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 92 Conclusions 92 Recommendations 94 REFERENCES 95 BIODATA OF THE AUTHOR 104

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LIST OF TABLES

Page

Table 2.1

Supply and demand of logs in Peninsular Malaysia, 1981 to 2010 (Mil m3)

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Table 2.2 Growth rate of Azadirachta excelsa as compared to other forest plantation tree species (2004)

34

Table 2.3 Distribution of A.excelsa plantations in Peninsular Malaysia in 2001

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Table 3.1

Diameter at breast height (DBH) for each selected trees measured for sap flow

61

Table 4.1 Stand and stock tables for 9-y old A.excelsa stands in Sime Darby plantation in Merlimau Melaka

66

Table 4.2 ANOVA table for diameter increment of Azadirachta excelsa after 9-years planting

67

Table 4.3 Calculated MAIv and CAIv at the beginning and at the end of the observation period (1999-2004)

68

Table 4.4 Current stocking parameters of potential crop tree (PCT) (200 trees/ha)

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Table 4.5 Crown structure of unthinned and thinned Azadirachta excelsa after 9-years planting

71

Table 4.6 ANOVA table for crown increment of Azadirachta excelsa after 9-years planting

71

Table 4.7 Duncan Multiple Range Test of the daily hourly average between the treatments after 9-years planting

76

Table 5.1 The results of the daily hourly average for sap flow on other studies

89

Table 5.2 Soil moisture content (%) of thinned and unthinned stand of Azadirachta excelsa in Sime Darby Plantation Merlimau, Malacca (Mohd. Hanif 2003)

91

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LIST OF FIGURES

Page

Figure 2.1 Azadirachta excelsa (Jack) Jacobs – 1, habit of young tree; 2, flowering twig; 3,sectioned flower; 4, branchlet with fruits

31

Figure 2.2 Mature stand of A. excelsa with pale brown bark, fissured longitudinally

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Figure 3.1 Map showing the study site in Sime Darby, Merlimau, Melaka

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Figure 3.2 Total annual rainfall and number of rain days at study site from 1997 to 2003

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Figure 3.3 Maximum and minimum temperature at study site (1997 to 2003 )

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Figure 3.4

Average hourly relative humidity (RH) and air temperature (AT) at study site (April to August 2002)

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Figure 3.5 9-year-old Sentang stand in Sime Darby Plantation, Merlimau, Malacca

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Figure 3.6 Diagram showing experimental plot and location of equipment

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Figure 3.7 Systematic thinning activity

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Figure 3.8 Tree felling using chainsaw in thinned plot

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Figure 3.9 Drill the three holes slowly with the drill bits and drill guide to ensure that the holes are parallel.

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Figure 3.10 The jig enforces a nominal spacing of 10 & 5 mm above & below the heater. The depth of the probe sensor placement was deliberately towards the outside where sap flux is higher.

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Figure 3.11 The entire implanted portion of the trunk was wrapped with the aluminum foil to act as a solar radiation shield.

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Figure 3.12 The logger was connected to the computer for starting the data logging and also data retrieving

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Figure 4.1 Relationship between current annual volume increment and mean annual volume increment with age

68

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Figure 4.2 Diameter Distribution of A.excelsa After 9-years Planting For control (unthinned plot)

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Figure 4.3 Diameter Distribution of A.excelsa After 9-years Planting For thinned plot

73

Figure 4.4 Mean diameter increment of A.excelsa 9-years after planting

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Figure 4.5 Sap flow rate of Azadirachta excelsa for thinned plot

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Figure 4.6 Sap flow rate of Azadirachta excelsa for unthinned plot

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Figure 4.7 Light intensity for one week period (20-24 January 2003)

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

asl Above Sea Level

Anon Anonymous

ANOVA Analysis of Variance

DBH

Diameter at Breast Height

DMRT Duncan’s Multiple Range Test

FAO

Food Agriculture Organization

FDPM Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia

FRIM Forest Research Institute Malaysia

GLM Generalized Linear Model

ha Hectare

PROC Procedure

SAS Statistical Analysis System

UPM Universiti Putra Malaysia

PPFD Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

General Introduction

Forest plantation in Malaysia-background

The history of forest plantation in Malaysia began in 1800 with the

introduction of exotic tree species such as rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) and

teak (Tectona grandis). H. brasiliensis was first introduced in Malaysia in

1877 when nine seedlings of rubber were planted at Kuala Kangsar in the

state of Perak.

By the early 1900's the demand for natural rubber had increased dramatically

as the result of the expansion of car and electrical industries. Introduction of

new land regulations also stimulated interests in rubber planting. The

suitability of climatic conditions and the liberal government allocation of land,

coupled with the availability of cheap labour led to rapid expansion of rubber

land in Malaysia. The rubber trees seemed to thrive better in Malaysia than

its native habitat in Brazil particularly for being more resistance against

natural diseases and pests. By the end of 1999 a total of 1,700 ha of pilot

rubber forest plantations had been established in various locations.

Teak, the most notable exotic timber species planted in plantation in this

country, was first introduced in Penang in the 1800's and the earliest teak

plantation was initiated at Sungai Raya in Langkawi Island around 1915. The

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planting of teak was then extended to mainland Kedah and Perlis in 1940s

and 1950s. By the end of 2001, the total teak plantation established in

Peninsular Malaysia is 3,107 ha.

During the late 1950s and early 1960s, large scale pilot planting of several

fast growing exotic species was conducted, particularly Pinus, Araucaria and

Eucalyptus species, mainly in expectation of the establishment of the pulp

and paper industry in Peninsular Malaysia. The planting of pine was

discontinued in 1980 when the proposal to set up pulp and paper mill in

Peninsular Malaysia was cancelled.

Meanwhile, the search for potential fast growing hardwood species continues

persistently. Several exotics including Acacia mangium, Paraserianthes

falcataria and Gmelina arborea were identified as potential species for the

establishment of short-rotation forest plantation, to produce general utility

timber. Hence in 1982 the Compensatory Forest Plantation Project (CFPP)

was launched in the states of Pahang, Johore, Selangor and Negeri

Sembilan with the projected target of 188,000 ha. The project was jointly

funded through loans from the Government of Malaysia and the Asian

Development Bank. However, in 1992, there was a moratorium imposed on

the planting of A. mangium due to the widespread occurrence of heart rot

disease in most plantation sites.

Concurrently, potential of utilizing local species was also being explored.

Species such as Sentang (Azadirachta excelsa) has caught the attention of

the plantation industry. This species has shown good growth rates in early

years and is almost pest free. Planting of A. excelsa was initiated by the

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State Forestry Departments in 1993 and 1994, including Kelantan and

Terengganu (Forest Department Peninsular Malaysia, 1999). Since then the

interest to plant A. excelsa has increased. A number of smallholders have

replanted their rubber with A. excelsa especially in the states of Terengganu

and Johore. In 1997 the government, through the Forest Research Institute

of Malaysia (FRIM) and other forestry agencies started to promote A. excelsa

for forest plantation (Baskaran, 1997). By 1999 the Forest Department of

Peninsular Malaysia had established 1765 ha of A. excelsa plantations

(Forest Department Peninsular Malaysia, 2000).

In 2001, forest plantations of Peninsular Malaysia covered a total area of

74,804 ha comprising mainly of A. mangium and small percentage of P.

falcataria and G. arborea. More than 15 000 ha were planted in 1988 and

more than 10 000 ha in 1985. Most of the plantations were established

during the first phase of the Compensatory Forest Plantation Programme

between 1982 and 1988. Since 1989, an annual planting rate had never

exceeded 7 000 ha (Baskaran & Ong, 2003). There was a dramatic drop in

planting rate after 1998 due to the economic recession across Southeast

Asia since late 1997.

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Problem statements

The study of growth and yield of forest stands is a central issue in forestry

research and management. In recent years, much emphasis has been

placed on the growth and yield of mixed tropical forest and management

activities related to.(Lieberman & Lieberman 1987; Vanclay 1989; Yong

1990; Silva et al. 1995; Ong & Kleine 1995; Alder 1995; Kohler & Huth 1998)

and sub-tropical forests (Rautiainen, Pukkala, T. & Miina 2001). However, a

full understanding of the growth and yield of plantation-grown indigenous

tropical species such as A. excelsa is still lacking. Thus, this study was

initiated after recognizing the importance of growth and yield studies of

plantation-grown indigenous fast growing species for future forest

management decisions, coupled with a general paucity of knowledge on the

growth and potential yield of the species planted under plantation condition.

The species of A. excelsa is regarded among the most promising indigenous

species for forest plantation in Peninsular Malaysia and future reforestation

works with this species will cover a wide spectrum of land areas including

flat, undulating and even sloping topography.

Considering the size of plantation being established, the need for studies on

silvicultural operation is more widely recognized. Until now, except for

Acacia mangium, there was no specific model on silviculture and

maintenance of each species being planted in Malaysia. Most of the planting

is based on general plantation silviculture and management. Thinning

treatment for instance, gives a strong effect on the wood quality and the

22

yield. Therefore, as each tree species performed differently, the treatment

should be modeled accordingly to fit the growth behavior of the species.

Study on the influence of thinning on environmental factors is usually

neglected, although the cause of success or failure may be found in changes

in these factors brought about by the thinning operation. Studies of

environmental changes will not be necessary in all thinning plots. However,

sufficient studies should be made to show how much these factors are

altered by thinning practices. For example, if it can be shown that changes in

water use are most important, thinning should be made that creates optimum

conditions.

Only few studies have been made in Malaysia to study the water use in

relation to stand density with subjected to natural forest stand conditions only

(Siti Aishah, 2004)..Therefore when such management practice need to be

developed to a particular species in forest plantation it is important to monitor

not only the growth but also water uses which is related to the water budget

of the area.

The studies provide an opportunity to generate baseline information for future

planting of A. excelsa under plantation condition. Information on growth and

potential yield of the species can be used in the planning for future

establishment and management planning for future A. excelsa

plantations,while the sapflow study can provide information on how thinning

23

regimes has the potential on helping the forest to retain water in the soil and

evaporation.

In this thesis, the initial goal is to evaluate the growth performance and sap

flow within a thinning and adjacent unthinned stand of Azadirachta excelsa.

The knowledge will assist in establishing the best methods of thinning, and in

addition provide information on tree growth due to thinning activities.

Objectives

1. To evaluate and compare growth between thinned and unthinned

stand of. A.excelsa

2. To evaluate variation of microclimate within a thinned and adjacent

unthinned stand.

Hypotheses

H0: i) There is no significant effect on tree growth due to thinning.

ii) There is no significant effect on water use before and after thinning

H1: i) There is significant effect on tree growth due to thinning.

ii) There is significant effect on water use before and after thinning

24