GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF CALAMUS SUBINERMIS IN PROVENANCE TRIALS IN SABAH, MALAYSIA

Abstract

A study was carried out to assess the growth and survival of 14-year-old provenance cum progeny trials of Calamus subinermis at three different sites and soil types in Sabah, Malaysia. These sites were Kolapis A, a logged-over forest with sandy clay loam; Segaliud Lokan, an Acacia mangium plantation with sandy loam to sandy clay loam and Sook, scrub dominated by Baeckia frustescens with gleyic podzol. High survival percentage (more than 85%) was observed in Sook while high mortality rate (more than 60%) was noticed in both Kolapis A and Segaliud Lokan. Mean annual growth rates of C. subinermis were 1.36, 3.34 and 3.78 m year^-1 in Sook, Segaliud Lokan and Kolapis A respectively. The growth performance of C. subinermis was more affected by soil type or soil condition than by provenance.