Important Trees of Haiti
Important Trees of Haiti
Important Trees of Haiti
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34 Chenn<br />
limited number <strong>of</strong> seedlings<br />
that the average <strong>Haiti</strong>an farmer<br />
demands, vegetative propagation<br />
<strong>of</strong><strong>Haiti</strong>an oak will be a distinct<br />
feature <strong>of</strong> this species'<br />
future in <strong>Haiti</strong>.<br />
Five grafting methods were<br />
experimented with C. longissima<br />
at Double Harvest in<br />
October, 1988. The methods<br />
utilized scion material collected<br />
from superior tree candidates<br />
and rootstock propagated in 10<br />
cm polythene bags. None <strong>of</strong> the<br />
grafting methods was successful.<br />
However, the experiment<br />
was not exhaustive and such<br />
factors as season, rootstock<br />
vigor and budwood quality were<br />
not studied.<br />
Biomass Studies: Ehrlich et al.<br />
(1986) developed biomass and<br />
volume tables for this species<br />
based on a stand <strong>of</strong> <strong>Haiti</strong>an oak<br />
near Limbe that ranged in stem<br />
diameters from 2 to 20 cm.<br />
These tables are based on the<br />
allometric relationship between<br />
an easily measured parameter,<br />
Figure 4.7 C. longissima coppice, ready for second<br />
lumber harvest. Inset - Close up <strong>of</strong> coppicing<br />
stump.<br />
such as DBH, and biomass. These relationships are expressed in the equations provided<br />
in Table 4.1.<br />
Compared to species such as Leucaena leucocephala, the tree has low biomass<br />
coefficients, meaning that most <strong>of</strong> the wood is contained within a stocky single stem<br />
rather than in a heavily branched canopy. This attribute is one that makes C. longissima<br />
a favorite lumber species, especially if the tree is managed on a regular pruning cycle.<br />
No volume tables for lumber have been recorded for <strong>Haiti</strong>an oak.<br />
Growth Performance: The tree grows moderately fast on freely-drained alluvial sites<br />
that receive at least 1000 mm annual rainfall. The best early growth <strong>of</strong> the species has<br />
been observed at the progeny trial near Laborde (Cayes) and the seed orchard at Roche<br />
Blanche (Croix-des-Bouquets), where average height increments <strong>of</strong> 1.2-1.4 my-I during<br />
the first 3 years and survival rates above 90% were recorded (Fig. 4.8). The oldest<br />
trial <strong>of</strong><strong>Haiti</strong>an oak was established by FAO at Vaudreuil (Bihun, 1982). Average heights<br />
<strong>of</strong>2.5 m in 2 years, 6 m in 7 years and 7.5 m in 10 years were recorded at a survival rate<br />
<strong>of</strong> 65 %. However, <strong>Haiti</strong>an oak performs poorly on sites where soils are extremely shal-
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