Performance of Medium term Agro-Forest treespecieson hard Laterite Soils

Abstract

Abstract— A long term research was initiated in 1999 using medium term agro-forest trees in a shallow Andigama series soils having a hard laterite gravel layer. The present paper focuses on the growth and survival of the medium term forest tree species planted in 1999 and theirperformance by the year 2016. Acacia species had the fastest (P<0.05) growth in terms of tree diameter at breast height (DBH)during the time period (1999-2016) followed byMacarangapeltata, Gliricidia sepium andTectonagrandis. In contrast,Swieteniamacrophyllahad the lowest (P<0.05) growth during the same period. Further, Brideliamoonii had a lower (P<0.05) growth compared to Acacia species and Macarangapeltatabut not different from other species. Thus Acacia species, Macarangapeltata, Gliricidia sepium andTectonagrandis could be selected as better agroforest tree species for medium term basis to be grown in hard laterite soils in Andigama soil series Shallow Phase.