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Growth and yield models for teak planted as living fences in coastal ecuador

Abstract:

Teak plantations cover a total area of about 4.35 million ha worldwide. The species is currently being planted in silvopastoral systems in the coastal lowlands of Ecuador. However, there are no growth and yield models for teak grown in silvopastoral systems, especially as living fences, in this region. The aim of the present study was to develop volume and yield models for teak grown as living fences in silvopastoral systems. For teak planted as living fences, the biological rotation age was estimated to vary between 15 and 26 years. The final yield in the silvopastoral system varied from 49 m3 ha−1 at 26 years in the least productive sites to 225 m3 ha−1 at 15 years in the most productive sites in the study area. The mean annual yield for the highest quality site was 15.3 m3 ha−1 year−1 at age 15 years, for a density of 160 trees ha−1. For a base age of 10 years, height-based site indexes of nine to 23 m were established. The growth and yield model obtained may be useful to define the biological (optimal) rotation age and estimate the productivity of teak living fences in the coastal lowlands of Ecuador.