Bwa-yo - Société Audubon Haiti

34 Chenn
limited number of seedlings
that the average Haitian farmer
demands, vegetative propagation
ofHaitian oak will be a distinct
feature of this species'
future in Haiti.
Five grafting methods were
experimented with C. longissima
at Double Harvest in
October, 1988. The methods
utilized scion material collected
from superior tree candidates
and rootstock propagated in 10
cm polythene bags. None of the
grafting methods was successful.
However, the experiment
was not exhaustive and such
factors as season, rootstock
vigor and budwood quality were
not studied.
Biomass Studies: Ehrlich et al.
(1986) developed biomass and
volume tables for this species
based on a stand of Haitian oak
near Limbe that ranged in stem
diameters from 2 to 20 cm.
These tables are based on the
allometric relationship between
an easily measured parameter,
Figure 4.7 C. longissima coppice, ready for second
lumber harvest. Inset - Close up of coppicing
stump.
such as DBH, and biomass. These relationships are expressed in the equations provided
in Table 4.1.
Compared to species such as Leucaena leucocephala, the tree has low biomass
coefficients, meaning that most of the wood is contained within a stocky single stem
rather than in a heavily branched canopy. This attribute is one that makes C. longissima
a favorite lumber species, especially if the tree is managed on a regular pruning cycle.
No volume tables for lumber have been recorded for Haitian oak.
Growth Performance: The tree grows moderately fast on freely-drained alluvial sites
that receive at least 1000 mm annual rainfall. The best early growth of the species has
been observed at the progeny trial near Laborde (Cayes) and the seed orchard at Roche
Blanche (Croix-des-Bouquets), where average height increments of 1.2-1.4 my-I during
the first 3 years and survival rates above 90% were recorded (Fig. 4.8). The oldest
trial ofHaitian oak was established by FAO at Vaudreuil (Bihun, 1982). Average heights
of2.5 m in 2 years, 6 m in 7 years and 7.5 m in 10 years were recorded at a survival rate
of 65 %. However, Haitian oak performs poorly on sites where soils are extremely shal-