Information on Forest Science and Technology Number 2 2002

July 30, 2006 by

Summaries of papers in the bulletin; for more information contact info@fsiv.org.vn


Results of a cooperative project on afforestation technology development on acid sulphate soils (Pham The Dung)

The research described in this paper is the result of a collaborative project between JICA and the Forest Science Institute of Vietnam from March 1997 to March 2002. The project was implemented at Thanh Hoa Forest Experimental Station, Long An province. The aim of the project was to achieve sustainable use of the area of acid sulfate soil that is lying waste, for forest and agricultural production, i.e. technology development for afforestation on acid sulfate soil.

With the help of Japanese experts and the supply of material, equipment and training of Vietnamese counterparts through JICA, the project has completed construction of infrastructure, including office buildings, a nursery, meteorology station, bridges, road and canal system. A 27 ha experimental forest plantation and more than 20 ha of a model forest plantation have been established. Research has been conducted on a technique for seedling production in the nursery, Melaleuca sp. propagation by grafts and rooting of cuttings. Afforestation techniques, including land preparation, forest planting, tending and protection have been developed for Melaleuca sp. and Eucalyptus.

Throughout the project the effects of afforestation on environmental factors, soil and water conditions, as well as a survey on wood quality, market demand and forest management were carried out.

Besides these main activities, the project has also established a good relationship with local authorities through assistance to schools and distribution of information about the role of forests.


Research on Melaleuca forest planting techniques on acid sulphate soil in Thanh Hoa district, Long An province

(Fuminori Miyatake, Michio Matsuda, Pham The Dung and Pham Ngoc Co)

One of the objectives of this project was to develop afforestation techniques on acid sulfate soil in the Mekong Delta. The paper presents results of research on Melaleuca forest establishment, including species and provenance selection techniques, land preparation methods, planting density and forest husbandry.

Based on these research results, the following recommendations are made:


  • Species and selected for afforestation are M. leucadendra (provenance weipa Australia, bensbash and kuru, Papua New Guinea), M. cajuputi, Tinh Bien, An Giang province and Vinh Hung, Long An province)

  • Low embankments with 1.3 m wide ditches should be constructed during land preparation

  • Planting densities 15,000—20,000 trees/ha should be applied with exotic Melaleuca and 30,000—40,000 trees/ha with indigenous Melaleuca; the management rotation is 5—7 years without thinning

  • Pruning is essential to achieve a fine stem form and to reduce rat damage and fire hazards.



A Melaleuca seed orchard

(Nguyen Thi Hai Hong)

The establishment of a Melaleuca seed orchard is essential for production of good quality seed to ensure the genetic characteristics inherited from selected clones, timeliness in supplying seed for forest planting and also, providing a base to continue research on breeding and tree improvement.

This paper presents techniques for Melaleuca seed orchard establishment and management on acid sulfate soils from establishment to seed collection based on experiences from seed orchard establishment in Thanh Hoa, Long An province, together with some experimental results from observations on fruiting and flowering, Melaleuca seed storage and effective management of a seed orchard.


Application of linear programming techniques to Melaleuca forest management in the Mekong River Delta

(Ho Van Phuc)

Forest management is the process of analysis and calculation aimed at developing an optimal forest exploitation regeneration plan. This plan satisfies both the requirements of the forest owner and the approach at the highest level of forest management. Management of a forest division usually includes a number of steps: 1) Identifying the requirements and objectives of forest management; 2) Choosing the management units; 3)Examination of silvicultural systems to be applied in the management units; 4) Determining the benefits obtained in each hectare accrued from every silvicultural system; 5) Calculation and determination of optimal combination of silvicultural systems. The last step requires linear programming to be carried out, consisting of a set of complex equations that require a specialised computer software programme. Two case studies of a forest owner who has 20 ha of Melaleuca forest are presented to illustrate forest management and the application of linear programming techniques with the assistance of PCPROG software in Melaleuca forest management in the Mekong Delta for production of housing foundation posts.

Potential uses of wood from Acacia hybrids and considerations for forest planting

(Pham The Dung)

Acacia hybrids not only have high growth potential but their wood potential is also very high. Results of a study and analysis of wood samples show that the pulping capacity of Acacia hybrid wood is very good, as measured by cellulose content, lignin, wood density and required indices of pulp. Tested samples of pressed wood and particleboard made with Acacia hybrid wood show that indices such as bending strength, rupture strength, density and other quality indicators are of Japanese standard. In forest planting, attention must be paid to the hybrid seed source, which must have been selected and approved through progeny testing in forest research units appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.


A method of acid sulfate soil improvement for Melaleuca forest planting

(Vietnamese version only)


Preliminary results of a survey on damage caused by stem borer on some Melaleuca provenances

(Nguyen Thi Le and Nguyen Thi Hai Hong)

Zeuzcra coffea is an insect species that causes serious damage in Melaleuca forest. This insect not only affects Melaleuca growth but also wood quality. In serious cases trees die after being attacked by stem borers. For these reasons, a survey on the damage caused by stem borers in Melaleuca plantations was carried out.

This report shows some results of the investigation into damage, death rate of trees of affected species and provenances, time of damage and characteristics as well as proposed methods for stem borer control.


Evaluation of essential oil content and quality of Melaleuca of different species and provenances

(Phung Cam Thach, Nguyen Thi Hai Hong and Pham Thi Thuy Huong)

Trials of different Melaleuca provenances have been carried out in the Mekong Delta and conclusions are presented for 12 promising provenances of 9 species from Australia, regarding growth, stem straightness and survival. For exhaustive evaluation of the economic efficiency of Melaleuca, an additional study was made measuring the content and quality of essential oil.

Based on the analyses of tree growth and essential oil indices, recommendations are made for the selection of species and provenances of high economic value for both wood and essential oil standards.


Some properties of wood of Melaleuca leucadendra, M. cajuputy and M. viridiflora and evaluation of its use

(Do Van Ban)

Melaleuca leucadendra, Melaleuca cajuputi and Melaleuca viridflora are the three species of the Myrtaceae family in which M. cajuputi is a native species and the others are exotic species from Australia. They were planted in 1994 and 1995 on the acid sulfate soils in Thuy Tan commune, Thanh Hoa district, Long An province.

One of the main reasons for the lack of demand for this wood is that little is known about it. Research on wood characteristics would provide information for evaluating possible uses of this wood. The Forest Plant Resources Division of the Forest Science Institute of Vietnam collaborated with JICA on a project to investigate wood characteristics and evaluate uses for three species of Melaleuca. The project provided a scientific basis for assessment of Melaleuca wood depending on its characteristics (physical and mechanical properties and chemical components) and investigated the suitability of the wood for different uses, based on these characteristics.


A survey and forecast of the Melaleuca wood market in the Mekong River Delta and Ho Chi Minh City

(Do Van Ban, Tran Thanh Cao, Vu Dinh Huong and Ngo Duc Hiep)

The area of Melaleuca plantations in the Mekong Delta is increasing rapidly, resulting in the risk of a future surplus. A study to investigate the supply of Melalaleuca wood in the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City was carried out. The study method used was collection and analysis of secondary data combined with a field survey involving direct interviews.

The results show that from 2008 onwards, there will be an annual surplus of about 50 million trees, compared with expected demand. The problem will be to find uses for this wood.

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