Coppicing potential of Eucalyptus nitens: results from a field survey: scientific paper

Abstract

In order to determine factors which could have a positive influence on the coppicing potential of Eucalyptus nitens , a field survey was carried out at Draycott, near Estcourt in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Five measures of the ability to coppice (stump survival, height of coppice, number of dominant shoots, coppicing potential and coppice vigour) were assessed in seven recently felled compartments. Within these compartments 50 sample and 200 sub-sample sites were selected to provide a range of explanatory variables against which the ability to coppice could be assessed. The explanatory variables included factors related to the previous stand of trees as well as various physiographic factors. The data were analysed using correlation and multiple linear regression techniques. Of the explanatory variables, bark damage, stump volume and landscape aspect were able to account for 73 % of the total variation associated with the response variate of coppicing potential. Despite the amount of variance accounted for, aspect and stump volume may prove to be surrogates for factors not assessed, for example soil moisture or tree size when felled respectively. This field survey provides a basis for future studies in this area of research.


Southern African Forestry Journal No.193 2002: 31-38