KFRI Research Report No - Kerala Forest Research Institute

2 W OF WIPIM WP 16979 147 (3) 147(3)3 PONGAKIE MOREHEAD WP 16988 147 (3) 147(3)4 BENSBACH- BALAMUK WP 17551 147 (3) 147(3)5 3K S MT LARCOM 17739 147 (3) -6 SAMFORD 17891 147 (3) 147(3)7 OLD LOCKHART AIRSTRIP 18358 147 (3) 147(3)8 PNG PROV. SEED ORCH. 19301 147 (3) 147(3)A. crassicarpa1 JARDINE RIVER BAMAGA 16128 49 (1) 49(1)2 PONGAKI E OF MOREHEAD 16599 147 (3) -3 BENSBACH WP 17552 98 (2) 98(2)4 LIMAL-MALAM 17561 98 (2) 98(2)5 DIMISSI VILLAGE WP 18202 98 (2) 98(2)6 BENSBACH WP 18836 98 (2) 98(2)7 MOREHEAD 18962 49(1) 35(1)3.2. Growth performance of eucalypt provenancesThe performance of the provenances was evaluated based on disease resistance andgrowth. For eucalypts, the climate of lowlands (Kottappara and Kulathupuzha) wasextremely conducive for occurrence of pink disease and cylindrocladium leaf blight,while leaf blight was the major disease in high ranges (Muthanga and Vallakkadavu).Pink disease occurred on A. auriculiformis and A. mangium.3.2.1. Performance in high ranges3.2.1.1. E. grandisThe yield of E. grandis at Muthanga at sixth year for almost all the provenanceswas enormous (Table 12). The annual yield ranged from 43.5-61.6 m 3 /ha/yr. The highestyielding provenance was BAROON POCKET MALENY (61.6 m 3 /ha/yr) followed byPALUMA DAM, 15 KW CAIRNS and MOUNT LEWIS. Evaluation of E. grandisprovenances at Vallakkadavu was not possible because the plantation had become part ofthe Periyar Tiger Reserve and we were unable to do maintenance work in the plantation.However, in order to come to a consensus on the best provenances suitable for Kerala, weconsidered the performance of the provenance trial plot established at Vallakkadavu in1990. The evaluation was done at the fourth year based on GBH, survival percentage and16