PLANTING <em>DURIO</em> <em>ZIBETHINUS</em> IN ABANDONED SHIFTING CULTIVATION AREAS: RESULTS THREE YEARS AFTER PLANTING

Abstract

Multipurpose tree species such as Durio zibethinus are easily accepted by farmers whose shifting cultivation areas are to be reforested. Durio zibethinus is valued for its fruits as well as its timber. Timber quality equals light red meranti (Shorea spp.) , the most common utility timber in Southeast Asian dipterocarp forests. We planted abandoned shifting cultivation sites with D. zibethinus seedlings. Planting was done both in lines opened up in the secondary forest and in clearings where all secondary vegetation was removed. Vertical and horizontal tending was applied four times per year in lines and in the clearings. Survival and growth were monitored for three years and results computed using t-test. Survival after three years was better in the line planting treatment (83% vs. 54%) whereas height and diameter growth yielded no significant differences. The mean annual increments were about 60 cm in height and 0.6 cm in diameter, i.e. slower than meranti. These results indicate that D. zibethinus can be planted in open lines in the same way as meranti.