Le Dinh Kha
Phi Quang Dien
The genus Casuarina consists of 45 species distributed mainly in the tropical area of the Southern hemisphere. Casuariana equisetifolia is a highly valuable species and is widely planted in most countries in tropical areas.
Casuariana equisetifolia has been introduced into Vietnam since 1896. In the 1930’s, it was widely planted in the central provinces. In the 1960’s, Casuarina equisetifolia was planted over large areas to prevent movement of sand along the seaside. Today, it is one of the main species for afforestaion programmes along the seaside in Central Vietnam.
Casuarina is a fast growing species and can be planted on various types of site, especially on seaside sand. Its root has Frankia which can fix Nitrogen from the air.
A .Study in breeding
1. Tree selection
Seeds should be collected from a good plantation on a site similar to those for planting and from trees at the age of 6-7 years onwards. Selected trees should have the best growth, narrow foliage, small horizonal branches, round but not twisted stem, few knobs and which has a short time for ripening. In general, in most plantations, only 1-2% of trees can be selected as mother trees.
Five stands of Casuarina equisetifolia were selected for mother trees such as Haithinh ( 6 years old at Namha) Cualo ( 7 years old at Nghean), Thachliem ( 20 years old, Hatinh). Nonnuoc ( 16 years old, Danang) and Ninhchu ( 15 years old, Ninhthuan). Selected trees surpassed the average of the stand. It was found that normally Casuariana equisetifolia trees grow faster in the South than in the North and the weight of 1000 seeds in the South is also greater than that in the North.
Latest news
- Project: Study on integrated management of insect pests and diseases on Docynia indica in northern Vietnam
- Project: Study on integrated pest management of major leaf insect pests and stem borer beetles in Acacia hybrid, A. mangium and A. auriculiformis in Vietnam
- Project: Research and develop an integrated management program for control of cinnamon pests in some main cinnamon growing areas (Northern mountainous region and Quang Nam province)
- Project: Pilot plantation and completion of planting techniques of technologically advanced germplasm of Acacia auriculiformis (AA42, AA53, AA56, AA92, AA95) for sawlog in the southeast and south central.
- Project "Research on selection of varieties and intensive afforestation techniques of Prunus arborea (Blume) Kalkman for providing lager timber in the Northeast and Northwest regions, Vietnam"
Oldest news
- species and provenance trials of acacias
- selection of manglietia glauca trees with fast growth and good form in the Central area of the North (During 1983 - 1985)
- study on effect of some growth stimulators on propagation of dendrocalamus by branch cutting (1976 - 1977)
- study on thinning techniques of manglietia glauca plantations in order to increase increment (1971 - 1976)
- increment rules of manglietia glauca planted stands for forest management work (1974-1977)
