Recent Developments In Acacia Planting

This manual summarises information on the ecology and silviculture of the species Acacia mangium Willd, with an emphasis on Vietnam. It also encompasses growth and yield data from published sources, as well as collected from sites under smallholder industrial plantations in Phu Tho Province, Vietnam. This manual is 1 of 5 that guide smallholder tree planting of 5 selected tree species in Vietnam. The other 4 species are: Acacia hybrid, Cinnamomum parthenoxylon (Jack) Meisn, Erythrophloeum fordii Oliver and Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake. The Government of Vietnam is carrying out a large-scale ‘reforestation’ programme, with the aim of improving local livelihood security, environmental sustainability and industrial wood supply. Smallholders are involved in plantation timber production through various schemes. Generally, these reforestation efforts have been effective, even though smallholders often lack the appropriate technical knowledge and management skills. Consequently, the quality and quantity of wood products may be suboptimal. The productivity of smallholder plantations can be improved by enhancing smallholders’ management knowledge and skills, including species selection (site matching), silvicultural management to produce high quality products, and pest and disease management.

The book contains papers presented at a meeting by eucalyptus experts, scholars, consultants and company managers from different countries and regions. The authors report: (1) the most recent advances in eucalyptus research from different perspectives — genetics, breeding, cultivation techniques, soil nutrition, plantation management, wood utilization, etc.; (2) the world-wide extension and development of the cultivated eucalyptus as a strategic forest tree with great economic, environmental and social significance; (3) plantation management merging ecological, environmental and legal concerns in operations practised by the private sector; (4) new approaches to utilization of eucalyptus woods. This book also represents a successful combination of academic research and practical operation in managing commercial eucalyptus plantations. Contents: Development and Ecological/Social ImpactBreeding MethodGenetic Testing and ImprovementNutrition and Site ManagementPlantation ManagementWood Processing and Utilization Readership: Graduate students, academics, researchers, plantation foresters, and natural ecosystem and environmental conservationists. Keywords:Eucalyptus;R & D;Plantation;Cultivation;Management;Yield Improvement;Environment;Wood Utilization

Crop losses by pests (insects, diseases and weeds) are as old as plant themselves but as agriculture are intensified and cropping patterns including the cultivation of high yielding varieties and hybrids are changing over time the impact of the pests becoming increasingly important. Approximately less than 1000 insect species (roughly 600-800 species), 1500 -2000 plant species, numerous fungal, bacterial and nematode species as well as viruses are considered serious pests in agriculture. If these pests were not properly controlled, crop yields and their quality would drop, considerably. In addition production costs as well as food and fiber prices are increased. The current book is going to put Plant Protection approaches in perspective.

The information in the Flora of Australia online website was first published in the Flora of Australia series.