Growth modelling of Eucalyptus grandis W.Hill ex Maiden TOOLUR in the north-western highlands of Cameroon

• Authors: Eric Ngbanye Ntabe , Jules Romain Ngueguim , Shuva Hari Gautam , Larinde Solomon Gbenga , Athanasius Fuashi Nkwatoh
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Eucalyptus grandis W.Hill ex Maiden Toolur is widely grown in the western highlands of Cameroon for fuel wood, charcoal, power transmission and for the construction sector. Its introduction in the area was a community response to increasing demand from adjoining villages and urban centres. In spite of this important economic role, there is little evidence about the application of growth modeling techniques for understanding forest dynamics, productivity and the preparation of feasible and reliable management plans. The objective of this paper was to develop a growth model for E. grandis for the Bambui Eucalyptus Plantation of Cameroon. Thirty square plots of 0.04ha each were set-up at 200m intervals in a parallel-cross direction to check within-plot heterogeneity. Data sets for six dominant and co-dominant trees as well as reference diameter were collected from each plot and analysed for the construction of growth models using the SAS non-linear regression technique. Growth performance and tree volumes were adjusted and tested using seven existing models. The Schumacher model gave the best adjustment. We used a site index equation to determine the fertility index, while a guide curve was drawn by substituting the reference age in the equation. Due to ecological similarities, the volume equation models were compared with those of an adjacent plantation. Predicted values were generated from the two plantations and used for a paired t-test and graphical illustration. We then simulated a yield table and drew site index curves for the plantation. Apart from environmental factors and site variation, growth in height showed rapid increase between 4 and 20 years. 80.5% of variations in reference diameter were explained by the model, while 58.8% of variations in dominant height growth were explained by management practices.

Keywords

EN

Cameroon; Eucalyptus grandis; Growth modelling; forest management

Discipline

• ENVIRONMENT_&_ECOLOGY: ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

• Publisher: Scientific Publishing House „DARWIN”
• Journal: World News of Natural Sciences
• Year: 2022
• Volume: 44
• Pages: 294-307

Contributors

author

Eric Ngbanye Ntabe

• Department of Civil Engineering and Forestry Techniques, University of Buea, Cameroon

author

Jules Romain Ngueguim

• Institut de la Recherche Agricole pour le Développement, Yaoundé, Cameroon

author

Shuva Hari Gautam

• Département des Sciences du Bois et de la Forêt, Université Laval, Québec, Canada

author

Larinde Solomon Gbenga

• Department of Environmental Science, University of Buea, Cameroon

author

Athanasius Fuashi Nkwatoh

• Department of Forestry and Wildlife, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

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• Document Type: article