Farm Forestry Species Trials in the Northern Territory - Bad Request

Farm Forestry Species Trials 

in the Northern Territory 

RIRDC Publication No. 09/091

Farm Forestry Species Trials in 

the Northern Territory 

by Mike Clark, David Carr, Tim Vercoe and Mat Hardy 

November 2009 

RIRDC Publication No 09/091 

RIRDC Project No GAL-4A

© 2009 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. 

All rights reserved. 

ISBN 1 74151 890 3 

ISSN 1440-6845 

Farm Forestry Species Trials in the Northern Territory 

Publication No. 09/091 

Project No. GAL-4A 

The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion 

and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in 

this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. 

While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, 

the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication. 

The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the 

authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to 

any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or 

omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the 

part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors. 

The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication. 

This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are 

reserved. However, wide dissemination is encouraged. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights 

should be addressed to the RIRDC Publications Manager on phone 02 6271 4165. 

Researcher Contact Details 

Dave Carr 

Greening Australia Ltd 

PO Box 74 

Yarralumla, ACT 2600 

Phone: 02 6281 8585 

Fax: 02 6281 8590 

Email: dcarr@greeningaustralia.org.au 

In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. 

RIRDC Contact Details 

Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation 

Level 2, 15 National Circuit 

BARTON ACT 2600 

PO Box 4776 

KINGSTON ACT 2604 

Phone: 02 6271 4100 

Fax: 02 6271 4199 

Email: rirdc@rirdc.gov.au. 

Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au 

Electronically published by RIRDC in November 2009 

Print-on-demand by Union Offset Printing, Canberra at www.rirdc.gov.au 

or phone 1300 634 313 

ii

Foreword 

This report communicates results of a series of farm forestry species trials established in the Top End 

of the NT from 1998 until 2003. The complete details relating to the trials include trial site 

descriptions, establishment and maintenance details, species performance results, key findings and 

recommendations. 

The main body of this report presents the results to help identify the best appearance grade tropical 

hardwood timber tree species and management options for a range of biophysical regions in the Top 

End of the Northern Territory (NT). These trials compared the genetic and silvicultural variables of 

species under controlled conditions, and demonstrated differences within trials and between trials in a 

repeatable way. 

The report also provides some background information in relation to the economic outlook for farm 

forestry, as the opportunities are generally not well accepted by landholders and may be undervalued 

by government institutions in the Northern Territory. 

The results to date identify a preliminary set of four preferred species to be selected for further 

silvilcultural management trialling: Khaya senegalensis (African mahogany), Tectona grandis (teak), 

Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river red gum) and Eucalyptus pellita. 

This project was funded by the Joint Venture Agroforestry Program (JVAP), which is supported by 

three R&D Corporations - Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), Land & 

Water Australia (L&WA), and Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation 1 

(FWPRDC). The Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) also contributed to this project. The 

R&D Corporations are funded principally by the Australian Government. State and Australian 

Governments contribute funds to the MDBC. 

This report is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 1900 research publications. It forms part 

of our Agroforestry and Farm Forestry R&D program, which aims to integrate sustainable and 

productive agroforestry within Australian farming systems. The JVAP, under this program, is 

managed by RIRDC. 

Most of RIRDC’s publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online at 

www.rirdc.gov.au. Purchases can also be made by phoning 1300 634 313. 

Peter O’Brien 

Managing Director 


1 Now Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) 

iii

Abbreviations 

ACIAR 

AFFA 

DBH 

DBIRD 

DNREA 

DPI&F 

DPIFM 

GANT 

NT 

NTF&TPN 

QFRI 

RIRDC 

TERTHFP 

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research 

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia (now Department of Agriculture, 

Fisheries and Forestry) 

Diameter at breast height 

Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development (NT) 

Department of Natural Resources, Environment & the Arts (NT) 

Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries (Qld) 

Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines (NT) 

Greening Australia NT 

Northern Territory 

NT Forestry & Timber Products Network 

Queensland Forestry Research Institute 


Top End Regional Tropical Hardwood Forestry Project’ 

iv

Acknowledgments 

We thank the Australian Government who, through the National Landcare Program, provided support 

funding for the various farm forestry programs from 1998 to date. The specific programs included the 

Farm Forestry Program, Farm Forestry Support and Farm Forestry Regional Support. A big thankyou 

to all the landholders who generously made available areas of their properties to establish the 24 sites 

from 1998/99 – 2000/01. We also thank Mr Kurt Neitzel, the Farm Forestry Coordinator who 

coordinated the planning and established, monitored and documented most of the trials. The initiation 

of the project concept was by Mike Clark of Greening Australia NT who played a major role in its 

inception and organisation. 

Other major players in the project were Don Reilly and Beau Robertson from the major partner in the 

project, the then Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries and now Department of Primary 

Industry, Fisheries and Mining. Others who were also involved with this project and on the steering 

committee were Greg Wills (NT Forestry & Timber Products Network) and Peter Brocklehurst of the 

then NT Dept. of Infrastructure and Planning (now Department of Natural Resources Environment & 

the Arts). 

Thanks to all who assisted with the measuring of the trial sites including Don Reilly, Beau Robertson, 

Vicki Simlesa, Nick Hartley, Jim Stuart and Kevin Flockhart. A special thanks goes to Dr Garth Nikles 

for his continued support of forestry development in the Northern Territory and his expert knowledge 

in the collection and analysis of data during the assessments of the trials. Roger Arnold and Emlyn 

Williams from Ensis (the joint forces of CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products and Scion NZ) provided 

valuable advice on data management and analysis. Aaron Simmons from Southern Cross University 

assisted with the data analysis during a placement with Greening Australia. 

Finally, but importantly, we acknowledge Kurt Neitzel (1945-2008). 

Kurt was the Farm Forestry Coordinator for the Top End Regional Tropical Hardwood Forestry 

Project for 4 years and coordinated the establishment, maintenance and monitoring of most of the trial 

sites in this report. He was a true pioneer of modern farm forestry in the Top End of the NT. He was a 

colleague and friend of Greening Australia and is sadly missed 

v

Stakeholders involved in the project 

Stakeholder Organisation/property Role in Project 

Mike Clark Greening Australia NT Project Manager/Steering 

Committee 

Kurt Neitzel Greening Australia NT/ DPIF Farm Forestry Coordinator 

Don Reilly 

Dept of Primary Industry & Fisheries 

– Agroforestry Unit. 

Steering Committee & operational 

support 

Beau Robertson DPIF – Agroforestry Unit Technical forestry support and 

advice 

Peter Brocklehurst Dept Lands Planning & Environment Steering Committee 

David Carr Greening Australia Ltd Data collection and analysis 

Mat Hardy Greening Australia Ltd Report compilation 

Sharon Hillen Greening Australia NT Regional support 

Michael Crothers Dept Lands Planning & Environment Regional support 

Jim Stuart Greening Australia NT/DPIF Technical support 

Greg Wills 

NT Forestry & Timber Products Steering Committee 

Network 

Gary Adams & Bridgitte Hickey Landholder Trial participant 

Mr & Mrs Terry Baldwin Landholder Provide land for demo site 

Phil Brooks Freds Pass Reserve Trial participant 

Mook Crothers 

Dept of Lands Planning & 

Environment 

Support for field days 

Maree Davis Freds Pass Reserve Maintenance of trial 

John Dekoning Landholder Trial participant 

Gerry Doherty Landholder Trial participant 

Bill Duminski Landholder Trial participant 

Sam Griffin Slate Hill Pastoral, landholder Trial participant 

Mel Hammett Landholder Trial participant 

Tori Hayman Landholder Trial participant 

Lee Humphries Landholder Trial participant 

Kalano Farm Kalano Community Association Trial participant, Aboriginal land. 

Barry Keitel Synden Park, Landholder Trial participant 

Claus Kohler Landholder Trial participant 

RJ Leal Landholder Trial participant 

Tim McGuffog Landholder Trial participant 

Geoff Meehan Landholder Trial participant 

Darryl Parker Landholder Trial participant 

Les Pleitner Landholder Trial participant 

Alfie Salzgeber Wooliana Enterprises Landholder Trial participant 

Ben Scattini Landholder Trial participant 

David Tollner Landholder Trial participant 

Henry Van Tilburg Landholder Trial participant 

Don Walsh Landholder Trial participant 

David Wills Landholder Trial participant 

vi

Contents 

Foreword ....................................................................................................................................... ii 

Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................................... iv 

Acknowledgments.................................................................................................................................. v 

Tables .................................................................................................................................... viii 

Figures ...................................................................................................................................... ix 

Executive Summary............................................................................................................................. xii 

1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 

Top End Regional Tropical Hardwood Forestry Project .................................................................. 1 

2. Tropical hardwood trials .................................................................................................................. 6 

2.1 DeKoning Species Trial.............................................................................................................. 6 

2.2 Duminski Species Trial............................................................................................................. 14 

2.3 ETA Species Trial..................................................................................................................... 23 

2.4 Fred’s Pass Species Trial .......................................................................................................... 32 

2.5 Hammett Species Trial.............................................................................................................. 48 

2.6 Hayman Species Trial ............................................................................................................... 55 

2.7 Hickey Species Trial ................................................................................................................. 63 

2.8 Howard Springs Species Trial................................................................................................... 71 

2.9 Humphris Species Trial............................................................................................................. 78 

2.10 Kohler Species Trial ............................................................................................................... 87 

2.11 McGuffog (now Wing) Species Trial ..................................................................................... 95 

2.12 Meehan Species Trial............................................................................................................ 110 

2.13 Parker (now Harvey) Species Trial....................................................................................... 120 

2.14 Pleitner Species Trial ............................................................................................................ 135 

2.15 Salzgeber Species Trial......................................................................................................... 143 

2.16 Scattini Species Trial ............................................................................................................ 150 

2.17 Ter Laare Species Trial......................................................................................................... 156 

2.18 Tollner Species Trial............................................................................................................. 166 

2.19 Wills Species Trial................................................................................................................ 174 

3. Species summaries......................................................................................................................... 184 

Summary of Northern Territory species trials .............................................................................. 184 

4. Climate Change ............................................................................................................................. 193 

5. Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 195 

6. References ................................................................................................................................... 197 

vii

Tables 

Table 2.1.1 Climate (based on Katherine) ............................................................................................................6 

Table 2.1.2 Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and score for the De Koning species trial...........10 

Table 2.1.3 Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and form score for the main species in the De 

Koning species trial .........................................................................................................................10 

Table 2.2.1 Climate (based on Darwin Airport – NW of the site)......................................................................14 

Table 2.2.2 Estimated mean height and survival for the Duminski species trial................................................18 

Table 2.1.3 Estimated mean diameter, bole and form score for the Duminski species trial...............................19 


Table 2.3.2 Estimated mean height, bole, diameter, score and survival for ETA treatments.............................28 

Table 2.4.1. Climate (based on Darwin Airport – NW of the site)......................................................................32 

Table 2.4.2 Estimated mean height and survival for the Freds Pass species trial...............................................37 

Table 2.4.3 Estimated mean diameter, bole and form score for Freds Pass species trial....................................38 


Table 2.5.2 Estimated mean height, survival, diameter, bole and form score for the Hammett species trial .....52 


Table 2.6.2 Estimated mean height, survival, diameter, bole and form score for the Hayman species trial ......59 

Table 2.7.1 Climate (based on Katherine) ..........................................................................................................63 

Table 2.7.2 Estimated height, survival, bole, diameter and form score for the Hickey species trial..................67 


Table 2.8.2 Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and form score for the Howard Springs species 

trial...................................................................................................................................................73 


Table 2.9.2 Estimated mean height and survival for the Humphris species trial................................................82 

Table 2.9.3 Estimated diameter, bole and form score for the Humphris species trial ........................................83 


Table 2.10.2 Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and form score for the Kohler species trial.........90 

Table 2.10.3 Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and form score for the main species at the Kohler 

species trial ......................................................................................................................................90 


Table 2.11.2 Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and form score for the McGuffog species trial...98 

Table 2.11.3 Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and form score for the main species at the 

McGuffog species trial ....................................................................................................................98 

Table 2.12.1 Climate (based on Katherine) ........................................................................................................110 

Table 2.12.2 Estimated mean height and survival for the Meehan species trial.................................................115 

Table 2.12.3 Estimated mean diameter, bole and form score for the Meehan species trial................................115 


Table 2.13.2 Estimated mean height and survival for the Parker species trial ...................................................126 

Table 2.13.3 Estimated mean diameter, bole and score for the Parker species trial...........................................126 

Table 2.14.1 Climate (based on Darwin Airport – NW of the site)....................................................................135 

Table 2.14.2 Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and bole score for the Pleitner species trial ......139 

Table 2.14.3 Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and bole score for the main species at the Pleitner 

species trial ....................................................................................................................................139 

Table 2.15.1 Climate (based on Wooliana) ........................................................................................................143 

Table 2.15.2 Estimated height, survival, bole, diameter and stem form for the Salzgeber species trial.............146 


Table 2.16.2 Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and form score from the Scattini species trial...152 

Table 2.17.1 Estimated mean height, survival, bole, form score and diameter for the Ter Laare species trial ..160 


Table 2.18.2 Estimated height, survival, bole, diameter and bole score for the Tollner species trial.................170 

Table 2.18.3 Estimated height, survival, bole, diameter and bole score for the main species in the Tollner 

species trial ....................................................................................................................................170 


Table 2.19.2 Estimated mean height, survival, diameter, bole and score for the Wills species trial..................178 

viii

Figures 

Figure 1.1 Location of the Northern Territory species trials ...................................................................5 

Figure 2.1.1 Mean height 18 and 54 months after planting......................................................................11 

Figure 2.1.2 Mean DBH and bole height at 53 months after planting......................................................11 

Figure 2.1.3 Mean form score at 53 months after planting.......................................................................12 

Figure 2.1.4 Mean survival % 18 and 53 months after planting...............................................................12 

Figure 2.1.5 Mean survival curve (%) from 18 to 53 months after planting ............................................13 

Figure 2.2.1 Mean height from 7 to 80 months after planting..................................................................19 

Figure 2.2.2 Mean survival % from 7 to 80 months after planting...........................................................20 

Figure 2.2.3 Mean survival curve (%) from 7 to 80 months after planting ..............................................20 

Figure 2.2.4 Mean DBH at 80 months after planting ...............................................................................21 

Figure 2.2.5 Mean bole height (m) at 80 months after planting ...............................................................21 


Figure 2.2.7 Duminski Khaya and E. pellita plots 16 October 2007........................................................22 

Figure 2.3.1 Mean height and bole height at 32 months after planting ....................................................29 

Figure 2.3.2 Mean survival % at 32 months after planting.......................................................................29 


Figure 2.3.4 ETA plots showing Khaya, E. camalduensis and Gamba Grass (19 October 2007) ...........31 

Figure 2.3.5 ETA plots showing Khaya, E. camalduensis and Gamba Grass (19 October 2007) ...........31 






Figure 2.4.6 Location of the Freds Pass Trial...........................................................................................41 

Figure 2.4.7 Pterocarpus at Freds Pass (16 Oct 2007).............................................................................43 

Figures 2.4.8a, b Insect damage at Fred’s Pass. 16 Oct 2007).........................................................................43 

Figure 2.4.9 Soil Pit 1 Freds Pass.............................................................................................................44 

Figure 2.4.10 Soil Pit 2 Freds Pass.............................................................................................................46 

Figure 2.5.1 Mean height 30 and 70 months after planting......................................................................53 

Figure 2.5.2 Mean survival % from 30 and 70 months after planting ......................................................53 








Figure 2.6.6 Hayman Chukrasia plot (16 Oct 2007) ................................................................................62 

Figure 2.7.1 Mean height at 65 months after planting..............................................................................67 





Figure 2.7.8 Hickey Trial Swietenia plot (19 October 2007) ...................................................................70 








Figure 2.9.3 Mean survival curve (%) from 6 to 70 months after planting ..............................................84 






ix




Figure 2.10.6 Koehler trial showing Khaya plot 18 Oct 2007....................................................................93 

Figure 2.10.7 Koehler trial showing Swietenia and acacia regrowth .........................................................94 

Figure 2.11.1 Mean height from 18 to 49 months after planting................................................................99 

Figure 2.11.2 Mean survival % from 18 to 49 months after planting.........................................................99 

Figure 2.11.3 Mean survival curve (%) from 18 to 49 months after planting ..........................................100 

Figure 2.11.3 Mean bole height (m) at 49 months after planting .............................................................100 

Figure 2.11.4 Mean DBH at 49 months after planting .............................................................................101 

Figure 2.11.5 Mean form score at 49 months after planting.....................................................................101 

Figure 2.11.7 McGuffog (Wing) trial E. pellita (17 Oct 2007)................................................................102 

Figure 2.11.8 McGuffog (Wing) trial Khaya senegalensis and E. pellita plots (17 Oct 2007)................102 

Figure 2.11.9 McGuffog (Wing) trial Khaya senegalensis and E. pellita plots (17 Oct 2007)...............103 

Figure 2.11.10 Soil Pit 1 Wing ...................................................................................................................104 

Figure 2.11.11 Soil Pit 2 Wing ...................................................................................................................107 

Figure 2.12.1 Mean height (m) from 6 to 50 months after planting .........................................................116 

Figure 2.12.2 Mean survival (%) from 13 to 50 months after planting ....................................................117 

Figure 2.12.3 Meehan Trial with E. pellita in foreground (17 Oct 2008) ................................................117 

Figure 2.12.4 Soil Pit 1 Meehan ...............................................................................................................118 


Figure 2.13.2 Mean height over time from 6 to 54 months after planting................................................127 

Figure 2.13.3 Mean survival % at 54 months after planting.....................................................................128 

Figure 2.13.4 Mean DBH and bole height at 54 months after planting....................................................128 


Figure 2.13.6 Khaya senegalensis (l) and Swietenia humilis....................................................................129 

Figure 2.13.7 Khaya senegalensis (with Kurt Neitzel).............................................................................130 

Figure 2.13.8 Khaya senegalensis ............................................................................................................130 

Figure 2.13.9 Soil Pit 1 Harvey ................................................................................................................131 

Figure 2.13.10 Soil Pit 2 Harvey ................................................................................................................133 

Figure 2.14.1 Mean height from 18 to 52 months after planting..............................................................140 

Figure 2.14.2 Mean survival % from 18 to 52 months after planting.......................................................140 

Figure 2.14.3 Mean survival curve (%) from planting to 52 months .......................................................141 



Figure 2.14.6 Mean bole score at 52 months after planting......................................................................142 

Figure 2.15.1 Mean height at 75 months after planting............................................................................147 





Figure 2.16.1 Mean height from 17 to 52 months after planting..............................................................153 

Figure 2.16.2 Mean survival % from 17 to 52 months after planting.......................................................153 

Figure 2.16.3 Mean survival curve (%) from planting to 52 months .......................................................154 






Figure 2.17.3 Mean health score at 7 months after planting.....................................................................162 




Figure 2.17.7 Ter Laare Trial (17 Oct 2007) ............................................................................................164 

Figure 2.17.8a,b,c Ter Laare trial.....................................................................................................................165 

Figure 2.18.1 Mean height at 51 months after planting............................................................................171 


Figure 2.18.3 Mean survival % for Eucalyptus pellita from planting to 51 months ................................172 


x


Figure 2.18.6 Mean bole score at 51 months after planting......................................................................173 






Figure 2.19.6 Will trial showing Chukrasia plot......................................................................................181 

Figure 2.19.7 Wills trial showing Callitris plot........................................................................................182 

Figure 2.19.8 Wills Trial showing Callitris and E. pellita plots. (17 October 2007) ...............................182 

Figure 2.19.9 Wills Trial showing E. pellita plot (17 Oct 2007)..............................................................183 

Figure 4.1 Northern Territory Potential Evapotranspiration 2050 Summer ........................................193 

. 

xi

Executive Summary 

What the report is about 

This report communicates results of a series of farm forestry species trials established in the Top End 

of the NT from 1998 until 2003. The complete details relating to the trials include trial site 

descriptions, establishment and maintenance details, species performance results, key findings and 

recommendations. 

The report presents not only the measurements, but also gives some background knowledge and the 

economic outlook in farm forestry. This issue is generally still not well accepted by landholders and 

may be undervalued by government institutions in the Northern Territory. 

Who is the report targeted at? 

The trials were established to develop a foundation for practically focused research that will provide 

information needed by industry, landholders, government and community organisations to assist 

decisions on the long term development of farm forestry in the Top End. 

Background 

The majority of the trials were established through the ‘Top End Regional Tropical Hardwood 

Forestry Project’ (TERTHFP) which was a collaborative project involving Greening Australia NT 

(GANT), the then Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries and the NT 

Forestry and Timber Products Network. It commenced in mid 1998 and has received significant 

support from the Natural Heritage Trust. Over the first three years of this project, more than 24 farm 

forestry species trials (most of approximately one hectare in area) were established across four target 

regions: Darwin Rural Area; Lower Mary River Catchment; Douglas\Daly; and Katherine. 

Other trials were established as a component of Greening Australia’s Farm Forestry Support contract; 

complementing thefollowing: 

• RIRDC trials implemented by DPI&F and QFRI researching several northern Australian taxa; 

• species trials conducted under the TERTHFP project that concentrates on mainly exotic species; 

and 

• the ACIAR Project at Nauiyu Nambiyu, Daly River examining a range of traditionally used native 

plant species. 

Another NHT funded project, Top End Farm Forestry Development, followed on from the TERTHFP 

project and included the establishment of a silvicultural trial looking at four best bet species: Khaya 

senegalensis, Tectona grandis, Eucalyptus pellita and Eucalyptus camaldulensis. The five hectare trial 

at Exotic Timber of Australia’s Batchelor Farm included different management regimes such as 

spacing, thinning, pruning and soil conditioning at establishment. 

The trials were strategically established in the four main agricultural sub-regions of the Top End and 

included management support with best practice farm forestry initiatives in mind. They were linked 

with research, development and evaluation strategies which provided the focus for extension, 

education and training. This included improving landholder skills in the area of planning, silvicultural 

management and farm forestry economics. The activities also helped landholders to form and operate 

effectively as a network to address regional farm forestry initiatives. 

xii

Aims/objectives 

The trials aimed to: 

• identify the best appearance grade tropical hardwood timber tree species and the management 

options for a range of biophysical regions in the Top End of the NT; 

• compare the genetic and silvicultural variables of species under controlled conditions; 

• demonstrate differences within trials and between trials in a repeatable way. 

Objectives included: 

• demonstration of the potential of northern Australian native plant species for wood and non-wood 

products, looking at different provenances of selected native plant species; 

• Assessment of provenance variation in selected native plant species 

• promotion of the commercial and conservation benefits of native plant species and the 

development of new industries that benefit regional development especially in remote areas 

• collaboration with R&D organizations, land management agencies, industry and other relevant 

organizations in WA, Qld and the NT to demonstrate the economic potential of native plant 

species in the wet/dry monsoonal tropics. 

Methods used 

For the ‘Top End Regional Tropical Hardwood Forestry Project’ trial planning involved: 

• determining best bet species suitable for establishment of appearance grade tropical hardwood 

timber plantations in the Top End of the NT; 

• estimating optimum planting material for best bet species; 

• estimating optimum silviculture practices for management of plantations of best bet species 

The trials were designed for objective statistical analysis and for validation of the assumption that 

differences are due to genuine variation and not chance. The trials have been designed in collaboration 

with CSIRO so that data can be analysed using GENSTAT or DATAPLUS and incorporated in 

national data sets such as TREEDAT. Results can thus be compared with similar trials in other areas of 

Australia. 

Sites represent biophysical characteristics that are common to the areas with the most potential for 

farm forestry development. Generally speaking, these are cleared land on well drained soils with a 

rainfall over 950mm. A few of the sites were located on more marginal country with poorer soils and 

drainage. There is a lot of this country potentially available for farm forestry and some of the species 

could perform well with appropriate management 

For most of the species involved the provenances/seed sources used were selected on the basis of 

availability rather than for genetic superiority, apart from species such as Eucalyptus pellita where 

material came from the QDPI/CSIRO improvement program 

It is envisaged that the trials will continue through to the end of the respective rotation periods for each 

species. 

xiii

At least six species were trialled per site according to statistical requirements. A complete block design 

was the main trial design used. For each species, 7x7 plots were established spacing 3 m x 3 m) and 

repeated 4 times at random for a total of 1,176 trees per site. 

GANT’s Farm Forestry Support native species trials comprised parallel testing of ‘best bet’ high yield 

native taxa species and provenances for irrigated and dryland sites. Superior species and provenances 

will be recommended for potential commercial development. 

Results/key findings 

The results reported here describe early survival and growth, but later age adaptation, stem form and 

growth performance will be revealed only after further years of monitoring. 

The results to date from the Top End Farm Forestry Development project enable selection of a 

preliminary set of four preferred species for further silvilcultural management trialling; Khaya 

senegalensis (African mahogany), Tectona grandis (teak), Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river red gum) 

and Eucalyptus pellita. . Of these, African mahogany is clearly the most promising species in view of 

its adaptability, timber quality, timber values, growth and relative resistance to termites. However, 

with the exception of E. pellita, most species have only been represented in the trials by arbitrary (or 

readily available) seed sources. So the existing trials are not absolute indicators of the potential of each 

species. The substantial genetic variation within these species suggests that other seed 

sources/provenances may provide substantially superior growth and/or form. For example, Cedrela 

odorata from a single seed source showed only moderate performance across the trial sites, compared 

with Cedrela odorata (from a different seed source) in a another taxa trial at Berrimah Farm in 

Darwin. 

An assessment of the trials in 2004 on most sites that were established in the first two years of the 

project showed that the best performing species were African mahogany (Khaya senegalensis A. 

Juss), Teak (Tectona grandis Lin. F) and Terminalia belerica (Gaertner) Roxb. Generally, the best 

growth was in the Katherine region on the Tippera and the river levee soil types. The soil types that 

appeared less favourable for tree growth are the Podzolic and Laterite that exhibit poor drainage and 

inhibit root penetration. African mahogany showed the best growth across a number of sites and 

appeared more adaptable to site (soil) variability than some other species evaluated such as Swietenia 

humilis Zucc. and T. grandis. Another species planted in the second year of trials on only a few sites 

but also performing well was Chukrasia tabularis A.Juss. 

At some sites, demonstration areas of some species were also established to allow observations to be 

made on a wider range of species than just the trials allowed. Within the suite of species, Pterocarpus 

macrocarpus grew very well on the sites where it was planted. 

Implications for relevant stakeholders 

Industry 

Industry should work closely with DPIFM, GANT and the NTF&TPN to access relevant detailed trial 

result information and develop realistic joint R&D programs to select better performing species from 

the trials for further genetic development. They should obtain data on wood qualities, preferably from 

known age plantation specimens grown in the Top End, and develop a better understanding of the site 

influences on growth rates, form and termite resistance. 

Communities 

There are opportunities for small-scale plantations, grown by rural landholders, to produce enough 

timber in a sustainable way to support the conversion of existing sawmilling operations to larger 

integrated high value timber producers using improved technologies. 

xiv

Farm forestry and forestry provides good opportunities for Aboriginal people in communities as 

demonstrated with forestry operations on the Tiwi Islands. For small scale and larger scale plantation 

developments there are a plethora of governance issues that require addressing before any activity is to 

go ahead in a well planned and successful way. 

Policy makers 

Policy makers are interested in the potential of forestry to provide economic development alternatives 

and jobs in NT while also supporting positive environmental outcomes. Reviews of various Land Acts 

including the Pastoral Land Act will impact on the scale and scope of forestry activities in the future. 

The interaction of forestry development with Fire and Weed management are key environmental 

drivers, while the ability of forestry development to attract additional skilled workers to NT and 

provide alternative jobs for a relatively dispersed labour force are particular areas of interest.. 

Climate change 

It is important to include an assessment of current climate change predictions in looking at species 

selection, land availability and risk. From a forestry point of view, the primary issues in NT will be 

additional land clearing for new plantations and the impact of forests on fire regimes and weeds. It is 

possible under current climate predictions that more land will become suitable for tree growing in NT. 

Recommendations 

It is important that the trials continue through to the end of the respective rotation periods for each 

species. The trials are very young and the more valuable results are to come in the longer term, up to 

30 years for some of the species. 

The full future potential and benefits of these trials will be realised if: 

• complete details relating to each and every trial continues to be well documented with relevant 

information distributed to all collaborators; 

• successful trials are well managed and maintained with all reasonable efforts taken to protect them 

from pests, pathogens and fire; 

• trial management, maintenance and protection, timely assessments, regular monitoring continues; 

• assessment data is recorded in appropriate formats, maintained in a secure database along with 

statistically correct analyses of trial data; 

• periodic reports of relevant results are well documented and reported in the public arena. 

Farm forestry in the Top End can only be successful if good genetic quality planting stocks are readily 

available. Capacity to produce and supply such stock should be a very high priority. Attention must 

also be focused on soil, nutritional and silvicultural management, particularly as the end-product 

objective is larger diameter logs for quality sawn timbers. 

The limited number of seed sources/provenances of each species included in the trials is a weakness of 

this study. For most of the species the provenances/seed sources were selected on the basis of 

availability rather than for genetic superiority. However, the genetic variation between 

provenances/seed sources within most of these species can be substantial. 

Two large forestry companies have used information derived from these trials in establishing 

plantations of Khaya senegalensis (African mahogany). These large scale plantations will provide the 

critical mass for local, national and international markets. Other landholders in the region with small 

woodlots could feed into this market. 

xv

Even with this uptake by forestry companies, at the time of this report the Khaya senegalensis tree 

breeding being undertaken by DPIFM is still in the ‘screening phase’ and there is a continual search 

for new infusion material. The screening material is still in its infancy and could benefit from 

collaboration between government, research institutions, industry and the community. 

xvi

1. Introduction 

Top End Regional Tropical Hardwood Forestry Project 

The Top End Regional Tropical Hardwood Forestry Project is a collaborative project involving 

Greening Australia NT (GANT), the Northern Territory Department of Business, Industry and 

Resource Development (DBIRD) and the NT Forestry and Timber Products Network. It 

commenced in mid 1998 and has received significant support from the Natural Heritage Trust. 

Recent support by the Joint Venture Agroforestry Program, enabled new monitoring of the trial 

sites. 

Over the first three years of this project, more than 24 farm forestry species trials (most of 

approximately one hectare in area) were established across four target regions: Darwin Rural 

Area; Lower Mary River Catchment; Douglas\Daly; and Katherine. 

This network of early trials has already provided some instructive and useful results, however 

their real value is as a resource for potentially important results in the medium to longer term. The 

results reported here are preliminary, as it cannot be assumed that early survival and growth will 

reflect later age adaptation, stem form and growth performance. However, the full future potential 

and benefits of these trials depend on: 

1) complete details relating to each and every trial well documented in a single formal 

report, with copies distributed to all collaborators; 

2) successful trials well managed and maintained with all reasonable efforts taken to 

protect them from pests, pathogens and fire; 

3) facilitated trial management, maintenance and protection, as well as timely 

assessments and regular monitoring of all trials; 

4) assessment of data recorded in appropriate formats, maintained in a secure database 

and statistically correct analyses of trial data carried out by appropriately experienced 

personnel; and, 

5) periodic reports of relevant results from these trials well documented and, as 

appropriate, reported in the public arena. 

The results to date have enabled a preliminary set of four preferred species to be selected; Khaya 

senegalensis (African mahogany), Tectona grandis (teak), Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river red 

gum) and Eucalyptus pellita. Of this group, African mahogany is clearly the most promising 

species in view of its adaptability, timber quality, timber values, growth and relative resistance to 

termites. However, with the exception of E. pellita and E. camaldulensis, most species have only 

been represented in the trials by arbitrary (or readily available) seed sources. Consequently, the 

results from existing trials are not absolute indicators of the potential of each species. Given the 

substantial genetic variation within these species (CAB International, 2000; Eldridge et al., 1993), 

there is a probability that other seed sources/provenances may provide substantially superior 

growth and/or form. This is particularly true of many of the native species which show great 

potential in the demonstration sites but have very little material available for more detailed 

assessment. Minor deficiencies in growth rates of the natives may be compensated by other 

values including gene conservation and biodiversity support. 

Significant farm forestry plantations in the Top End, producing larger diameter logs for quality 

sawn timbers, will succeed only if adequate quantities of good genetic quality planting stocks are 

readily available. Capacity to produce and supply such stock (seeds and/or vegetatively 

1

propagated clones proven in the target environments) should be a very high priority, along with 

focused soil, nutritional and silvicultural management for plantations. 

Farm Forestry Development Program 

As part of the next phase of farm forestry development following on from the TERTHFP, a five 

hectare trial site was established in 2003 in collaboration with a commercial forestry company, 

Exotic Timbers of Australia at Batchelor. Genetic improvement programs for the four preferred 

species have commenced, with DBIRD (in collaboration with QFRI and funding assistance from 

RIRDC) establishing seed orchards for K. senegalensis and E. pellita. 

The trial at Batchelor will be concentrating on developing optimum soil, nutritional and 

silvicultural management regimes for these four species as a further step towards 

commercialisation. 

Native Species Trials for the Wet/Dry Monsoonal Tropics. 

Field trials were established in the Darwin region in the 2001/02 wet season. The dryland site was 

established at the NT Forestry & Timber Products land at Howard Springs and the irrigated site 

was established on a private landholding in Humpty Doo on a previously cleared site. 

These trials complement the: 

• RIRDC trials currently conducted by DPIF and QFRI which are looking at several 

northern Australian taxa; 

• species trials under the Top End Regional Tropical Hardwood project concentrating 

mainly on exotic species; and 

• the ACIAR Project No. FST/96/77 at Nauiyu Nambiyu, Daly River looking at a range of 

traditionally used native plant species. 

The methodology for this project was the first stage for the development of high yield native tree 

species for wood and non wood products. This first stage comprises parallel testing of ‘best bet’ 

native taxa species and provenances for irrigated and dryland sites. 

The species used in the trials were ‘best bet’ species. These comprised species and specific 

provenances of species that are more likely to perform well in the climatic zone of the trials. 

Species included Acacia auriculiformis, A. mangium, A. peregrina, Canarium australianum, 

Casuarina cunninghamiana, Erythrophleum chlorostachys, Maranthes corymbosa, Melia 

azedarach, Santalum album, Syzygium armstrongii, S. forte and Terminalia microcarpa in the 

dryland trial. The irrigated trial site included: Acacia auriculiformis, A. mangium, A. peregrina, 

Blephocarya involucrigera, Castanospermum australe, Erythrophleum chlorostachys, Flindersia 

australis, F. brayleana, Santalum album, Syzygium armstrongii, S. forte and S. nervosum. A 

demonstration area of exotic timber trees including Khaya senegalensis, Tectona grandis, 

Swietenia macrophylla, S. humilis, Pterocarpus indicus and Chukrasia sp. was also established to 

provide a comparison of native versus exotic timber species performance. 

Ongoing management and monitoring. 

• Both trials will be managed using best practice silviculture by GANT with the assistance 

of DBIRD and the NTF&TPN. 

• A six-monthly measurement was undertaken by GANT and the NTF&TPN and further 

measurements will take place at yearly intervals. 

2

• Superior species and provenances will be identified in trials and recommended for further 

development for possible commercialisation. 

Monitoring of the Northern Territory Species Trials for JVAP 

In 2002, the JVAP agreed to support an additional round of monitoring for the species trials 

established by Greening Australia in the Northern Territory, in order to capture and make publicly 

available, the valuable information these trials contain. This allowed 21 sites to be re-measured 

and analysed. The results of 19 of these trials are reported here. 

Values of farm forestry for the Northern Territory 

Agroforestry has the potential to provide economic and environmental benefits to landholders in 

the Northern Territory. Although the Northern Territory has less than 1% of cleared land, there 

will be increasing pressure to clear more land for agriculture, horticulture and peri-urban 

development. Agroforestry offers a means to increase the environmental function of cleared land, 

while still providing an income, and complementing other production systems. 

Fodder 

Many tree species have foliage that can be used as stock fodder. These trees can therefore be 

incorporated into the property management plan to be multiple use trees. 

Shelter 

Shelter from trees can improve productivity by altering the microclimate with benefits to 

livestock. Areas providing shelter and shade are advantageous throughout the year in both the wet 

and dry season. 

Soil Conservation 

Large expanses of non vegetated land are subject to severe erosion from both wind and water. 

Massive volumes of top soil are lost each year through this process. Vegetation planting including 

the planting of suitable trees can assist to minimise this loss. 

Fire Control 

Through the appropriate selection of species, trees can act as a barrier to fire and can also be a 

tool in fire management. Trees that are most suited to fire protection regimes have: 

• high moisture content in the leaves 

• leaves that are low in volatile oil content 

• leaves that have a high ash content after burning 

• tough or smooth bark, and low volumes of suspended material such as bark and dead 

foliage. 

• trees have a suppressive effect on undergrowth. 

Weed Control 

Forestry can be used to shade out problem weeds while well designed belts of trees can also 

provide an effective buffer to prevent the spread of weeds. 

Water Quality 

Trees can assist in maintaining the quality of surface water. In many parts of Australia the removal 

of large numbers of trees has caused widespread salinity with rising saline water tables. 

3

Stream Buffers. 

Strategic tree planting can be used to stabilise stream banks and create buffer zones. Buffers can 

also be used to prevent erosion at the head waters of streams and erosion gullies and to act as 

biological filters to reduce the effects of chemical residues. 

Remnant Vegetation. 

Remnant areas of vegetation can be protected by planting buffers of trees around the margins, 

reducing the effects of wind and fire. 

Wildlife Corridors. 

The greater the species selection in a corridor, the wider the range of wildlife it will attract. While 

some wildlife may be damaging (e.g.: wallabies may eat seedlings), the biological pest controls 

brought by insectivorous, carnivorous and parasitic insects, birds and mammals can provide a 

balance. 

Enhancement of Landscape. 

While difficult to quantify, the scenic beauty of an area is an asset that should be developed for 

quality of life and in support of tourism. 

Risks to the development of a tropical hardwood industry for the Northern 

Territory 

Insects 

Termites are the biggest threat to the establishment of plantations in the Top End and have 

affected some of the species in these trials. Species that are less prone to termite damage should be 

favoured, or termite prevention and control measures implemented. 

Species in the family Meliaceae are also prone to the shoot-borer insect Hypsipyla robusta, which 

can severely reduce the economic value of trees. These include some of the better performing 

species in these trials including Khaya senegalensis, Swietenia macrophylla, S. humilis, and 

Chukrasia tabularis (Floyd et al., 2005; (Bygrave & Bygrave, 2004). 

Fire 

Fire has affected several of the trials reported here, and has the potential to wipe out or severely 

damage forestry plantations. The risk of fire is greatly increased in a poorly maintained plantation 

where grass is allowed to build up under the trees. To minimise this risk, plantations should have a 

clear firebreak around them and be well maintained to prevent grass getting away in the 

understorey of plantations. 

4

Figure 1.1 Location of the Northern Territory species trials 

5

2. Tropical hardwood trials 

2.1 DeKoning Species Trial 

Aim 

Identify the best appearance grade tropical 

hardwood timber tree species and management 

options for a range of biophysical regions in 

the Top End of the NT. 

Compare the genetic and silvicultural variables 

of species under controlled conditions. 

Demonstrate differences within trials and 

between trials in a repeatable way. 

Develop a practically focused research 

program that will provide information needed 

by industry, landholders, government and 

community organisations to make decisions on 

the long term development of farm forestry in 

the Top End. 

Trial type 

Randomised complete block. 

Location 

Map reference 

Latitude: 14'34.45 S 

Longitude: 

Nearest town 

Katherine, NT. 

132'07.10 E 

Table 2.1.1 

Climate (based on Katherine) 

Month 

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Total Avg 

Number of raindays 14.7 13.6 10.2 2.4 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.7 3.0 7.4 12.1 65.3 

Mean monthly 

rainfall 

10th percentile 




Mean daily max 

temp 

Mean daily min 

temp 

235.0 216.5 161.3 32.9 5.7 2.1 1.0 0.5 5.9 29.2 88.2 197.7 976.1 

101.4 74.5 23.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 25.3 80.9 620.6 

391.0 355.7 334.8 99.5 23.0 3.9 0.0 0.2 23.4 78.9 166.3 338.6 1315.0 

35.0 34.3 34.5 34.0 32.1 30.0 30.1 32.5 35.4 37.7 38.0 36.5 34.2 

24.0 23.7 22.9 20.4 17.1 14.1 13.2 15.5 19.6 23.6 24.7 24.4 20.2 

Highest max temp 41.1 40.5 39.2 38.3 36.0 36.1 35.2 37.3 39.4 41.7 45.6 43.3 

Lowest min temp 17.2 16.7 13.8 10.7 7.2 3.4 2.8 5.3 9.8 11.0 17.4 17.3 

Mean daily 

evaporation 

Mean 9am relative 

humidity (%) 

Mean 3pm relative 

humidity (%) 

77 81 77 64 58 56 52 52 52 56 62 71 63 

54 57 51 37 34 31 27 25 25 28 35 45 37 

KATHERINE COUNCIL Commenced: 1873 Last record:2004 

Latitude:-14.4589 S Longitude: 132.2572 E Elevation: 103.0 m State: NT 

6

Site preparation 

Ground preparation 

This trial has alternating rows of species, Khaya senegalensis as the main species, and Khaya 

nyasica, Cedrela odorata and Tectona grandis as the alternating species. The starting point in 

each plot is the southwest corner, with the rows running towards the east. 

Establishment 

Planting date 

20-21 January, 2001. Hot, overcast day. 

Seedlings 

Species used Treatment number Seed source 

Khaya senegalensis - Howard Springs 

Tectona grandis 3 La Cumbre/ 

Saragonza 

Cedrela odorata 2 DPI Qld 5525 

Khaya nyasica 1 Freshwater RD, jingili 

Labelling and design 

Pig tail pins were placed in the north west corner of each plot. Each pin has a metal tag with the 

replicate number and the plot number stamped on it (RepNo/PlotNo). There is also a plasticised 

paper tag with the species name, provenance/seedlot name and treatment number written on it. 

There is a pig tail pin at the end of each row in each replicate with a metal tag with the replicate 

number and row number stamped on it (Rep No/Row No). 

The trial is a randomised complete block with 4 replicates of 3 plots. There is one treatment 

(seedlot) assigned to each plot in 10 rows of 10 trees (100 trees per plot). For each plot, tree 

number 1 is adjacent to the pin (see diagram). 

7

Trial design 

I II III IV 

Demo 

Sites 

Homestead 

Florina Rd. 

1 2 1 2 

3 3 2 3 

2 1 3 1 

Entrance 

Tree layout within plots 

X Stake 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 

61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 

71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 

81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 

91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 

Maintenance 

Irrigation 

Watering regime: 8 l/hr drippers 4 times a week for 90 minutes. 

Monitoring 

Mike Clark and Kurt Neitzel inspected the site in September 2001. The site was reported to need a 

few replacement plants. Replacements were made after planting within two months as needed. The 

design included rows of Khaya in-between rows of other trial species, to give a better chance of at 

least one species at the site growing well. 

In addition to the trial – a demonstration of Acacia auriculiformis (PNG provenance), 

Allosyncarpia ternata and Enterolobium cyclocarpum was planted. 

The owner is keen and does good maintenance and wants to expand the plantation with another 

1000 trees next season. The teak and Cedrela were reported to look a bit stressed when no water is 

applied for more than two days. 

Beau Robertson inspected this site in July 2002 at 18 months after planting. He reported a 

reasonably maintained trial, although horse grazing in the paddock had done some damage to the 

8

trees. Khaya senegalensis (mean height 1.69 m) and Tectona grandis (mean height 1.68 m) were 

reported as showing the best growth. All other species were said to be poor. 

The trial was monitored in 2006 by Greening Australia staff. Tree height and DBH was measured 

in metres and centimetres respectively. The trial data was checked for uneven variance and 

outliers using Data Plus software and then analysed using Genstat software. REML analysis was 

used as one plot had to be eliminated, thus preventing simple ANOVA analysis from being used. 

Results 

Survival and growth in this trial has been poor for most species when compared to other sites. 

Only Khaya senegalensis had survival over 50% (54%) after 53 months. Survival declined sharply 

for Tectona grandis between 18 and 53 months. All other species suffered most of their losses in 

the first 18 months. 

Although not a main trial species, Khaya senegalensis was the tallest and had the greatest DBH 

after 53 months but this difference is not statistically significant. There was no indication from the 

analysis that differences between species was not due to chance alone as the variation within 

species was often as high as between species. 

Overall growth and survival is poor at this site compared to what would be expected and indicates 

moisture stress due to weed competition and damage from horse grazing. 

9

Table 2.1.2 

Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and score for the De Koning species trial 

Treatment 

Species 

Height 

18 

months 

s.e. 

Survival 

18 

months 

s.e. 

Height 

53 

months 

s.e. 

Survival 

53 

months 

s.e. 

Bole 53 

months 

s.e. 

DBH 53 

months 

s.e. 

Score 53 

months 

s.e. 

3 Tectona grandis 1.446 0.258 70.83 8.4 4.751 0.908 46.17 9.26 2.069 0.162 6.017 1.602 2.742 0.423 

1 Khaya nyasica 0.947 0.21 34.5 6.86 4.207 0.741 33.5 7.56 1.852 0.132 5.485 1.308 2.915 0.346 

2 Cedrela odorata 1.367 0.21 58.5 6.86 2.517 0.741 23.5 7.56 2.153 0.132 2.625 1.308 2.485 0.346 

10 

Sigma2 0.177 188.1 2.199 228.6 0.0699 6.846 0.478 

Wald statistic 2.93 12.42 4.35 3.61 2.7 3.51 0.78 

d.f 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 

Chi-sq prob 0.231 0.002 0.114 0.165 0.259 0.173 0.677 

s.e.d. 0.3209 10.46 1.131 11.53 0.2017 1.996 0.5273 

Table 2.1.3 

Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and form score for the main species in the De Koning species trial 

Treatment 


Height 

18 

months 

s.e. 

Survival 

18 

months 

Height 

53 

months 

s.e. 

Survival 

53 

months 

Bole 53 

months 

s.e. 

DBH 53 

months 

s.e. 

Score 53 

months 

s.e. 

M 

Khaya 

senegalensis 1.69 0.04 61.45 5.05 0.10 54.36 2.27 0.06 6.88 0.18 3.09 0.06

7.00 

6.00 

5.00 

Height (m) 

4.00 

3.00 

Height 18 months 


2.00 

1.00 

0.00 

Khaya senegalensis Tectona grandis Khaya nyasica Cedrela odorata 

Figure 2.1.1 

Mean height 18 and 54 months after planting 

10.00 

9.00 

8.00 

7.00 

(m) & (cm) 

6.00 

5.00 

4.00 

DBH 53 months 

Bole 53 months 

3.00 

2.00 

1.00 

0.00 


Figure 2.1.2 

Mean DBH and bole height at 53 months after planting 

11

4.00 

Wald statistic = 0.78; df=2; Chi-sq=0.677 

Error bars represent s.e.d. 

3.50 

3.00 

2.50 

Score 

2.00 

1.50 

1.00 

0.50 

0.00 


Figure 2.1.3 

Mean form score at 53 months after planting 

Tectona grandis 

80 

60 

40 

20 

Khaya senegalensis 

0 

Khaya nyasica 

Survival 18 months 


Cedrela odorata 

Figure 2.1.4 

Mean survival % 18 and 53 months after planting 

12

120 

100 

80 

Survival (%) 

60 


Khaya nyasica 



40 

20 

0 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 

Months 

Figure 2.1.5 

Mean survival curve (%) from 18 to 53 months after planting 

13

2.2 Duminski Species Trial 

Aim 















Trial type 


Location 

Darwin Rural, Virginia 

Map reference 


Longitude: 

Nearest town 

Palmerston, NT. 

Site Description 

131'00.42 E 

Original vegetation 

Woollybutts (Eucalyptus miniata) 

Table 2.2.1 Climate (based on Darwin Airport – NW of the site) 

Month 

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 

Number of raindays 21.1 20.3 19.3 9.1 2.3 0.6 0.5 0.6 2.3 6.6 12.1 16.5 

Mean monthly rainfall 423.3 361.1 319.3 98.9 26.5 2.0 1.4 5.7 15.4 70.7 141.8 247.9 

10th percentile rainfall 207.2 147.7 129.3 12.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.4 57.6 93.4 


Mean daily max temp 31.8 31.4 31.9 32.7 32.0 30.6 30.5 31.3 32.5 33.1 33.2 32.5 

Mean daily min temp 24.8 24.7 24.5 24.0 22.1 20.0 19.3 20.5 23.1 25.0 25.3 25.3 



Mean daily evaporation 6.5 5.9 6.1 6.8 7.1 7.0 7.2 7.5 8.0 8.3 7.8 7.0 


humidity (%) 


humidity (%) 

81 83 83 75 66 62 62 67 70 70 73 77 

70 72 67 53 43 38 38 41 48 53 59 65 

014015 DARWIN AIRPORT Commenced: 1941 Last record: 2004 


14

Soil 

Lithosol, sandy loamy to clay in southern part (grey podzolic), heavy. 



The trial is laid out with rows 3 m apart and trees planted at 3 m spacings within rows. Glyphosate 

was applied along rip lines, before ripping and after. Clearing of Pangola grass also occurred 

before ripping. The rows were ripped to a depth of approximately 500 mm, with three rip lines per 

tree line. The site is not fenced. 

Establishment 


14-15 December 1998. 

The seedlings were planted into the 1m wide rip-lines in weed-free, bare soil. At planting 50 g of 

Nitrophoska (NPK) blend was buried close to each seedling. The trees were mulched as a result of 

slashing. It was ensured that a fire break was established around the trial. No irrigation was 

installed at the site. 


Species used 

Castanospermum 

australe 

Treatment 

number 

Nursery Seed source 

Size at 

planting 

Health 

at 


1 10324 Good 

Swietenia humilis 2 HS Honduras Stripling Good 

Khaya senegalensis 3 HS D417 Senegal Good 

Chukrasia velutina 4 HS Stripling Poor 

Terminalia bellirica 5 HS HS Good 

Eucalyptus pellita 6 ATSC 19718 Good 

Container 








(seedlot) assigned to each plot in 7 rows of 7 trees (49 trees per plot). For each plot, tree number 1 

is adjacent to the pin (see diagram). 

15

Trial design 

1 3 5 6 2 4 Rep. IV 

3 1 5 4 6 2 Rep. III 

1 5 6 4 2 3 Rep. II 

6 2 5 3 4 1 Rep. I 


X Stake 

1 8 15 22 29 36 43 

2 9 16 23 30 37 44 

3 10 17 24 31 38 45 

4 11 18 25 32 39 46 

5 12 19 26 33 40 47 

6 13 20 27 34 41 48 

7 14 21 28 35 42 49 


Weed control post planting 

Slashing took place to remove weeds three times per year after planting. Some hand removal of 

weeds and spraying of glyphosate also took place. 

Follow up fertilising 

100g of NPK per tree was applied in October 1999. 150g of DAP was surface applied in 

November and December of 2000. 

Irrigation 

No irrigation occurred at this site. 

Replacements 

Replanting occurred in January, February and March 1999 for Castanospermum australe. There 

was also replanting of the Chukrasia site with Enterolobium cyclocarpum. 

Pruning 

Eucalyptus pellita trees were form pruned 

Pest control 

No pest control took place at this trial. 


Mike Clark and Kurt Neitzel inspected the site in September 2001. Replacement of Chukrasia sp. 

with Guanacaste which shows not the expected growth rate. 

16

Inspection of the site suggested that the soil was too heavy. 

• Black Bean : generally weak, only some healthy, losses too high 

• Eucalyptus pellita : leafs affected by insects; in one plot dying caused by infection with 

bacterial wilt (Rastonia solanaecarum previously Pseudomonas solanacearum) but 

generally best growth on the site 

• Swietenia humilis : few trees affected by herbicide, slow growing 

• Khaya senegalensis : symptoms of lack of trace elements (Zink) 

• Guanacaste : too slow, not healthy 

• Terminalia bellerica : good growth 

Beau Robertson monitored the site in 2002 and reported it as a very poor site (not irrigated). Most 

species were reported as growing slowly and having a somewhat stunted appearance. 

Maintenance by the landowner on this trial was reported as good, although a more suitable species 

was recommended for this site by Beau Robertson and that the current planting no longer be 

monitored. 



outliers using Data Plus software and then analysed using Genstat software. 

Weed status 

Surface fertilising caused extra growth of Pangola around base of trees. 

Insect activity 

There was some 2nd dry season die-back in Eucalyptus pellita, bacterial wilt from Rastonia 

sloanaecarum. 

Other observations 

Leaf yellowing noticed in Eucalyptus pellita in 2001, likely due to poorly draining soil. 

Results 

The estimated mean heights for seedlots are presented in Table 2.2.2. Eucalyptus pellita has been 

consistently the tallest species throughout the trial, showing significantly greater height than all 

other species. Despite reasonable growth rates early on, Castanospermum australe performed 

poorly towards the end, having the lowest height of species. Figure 2.2.1. shows the relationship 

between the heights of each species throughout the trial. 

Survival for all species was excellent until 41 months, whereafter Chukrasia velutina and 

Castanospermum australe in particular did poorly. 

For diameter, Eucalyptus pellita showed significantly greater DBH than all other species in the 

trial, at 6.32 cm (p=0.004) and 9.78 cm (p

Table 2.2.2 

Estimated mean height and survival for the Duminski species trial 

Treat 

ment 


Height 

7 

month 

s 

Survival 

7 

months 

Height 

11 

month 

s 

Survival 

11 

months 

Height 

18 

month 

s 

Survival 

18 

months 

Height 

26 

month 

s 

Survival 

26 

months 

Height 

41 

month 

s 

Survival 

41 

months 

Height 

80 

month 

s 

Survival 

80 

months 

6 Eucalyptus pellita 1.107 84.2 1.395 87.2 2.508 80.6 3.18 89.3 4.12 80.1 6.54 74 

5 Terminalia bellirica 0.412 98.5 0.785 93.9 1.632 91.8 2.195 96.4 2.98 95.9 3.97 74 

3 Khaya senegalensis 0.27 97.4 0.55 97.4 1.12 90.3 1.637 85.2 2.77 85.2 3.78 56.6 

4 Chukrasia velutina * * * * 0.525 73 0.91 50 1.45 21.4 3.15 20.9 

2 Swietenia humilis 0.225 94.4 0.367 89.8 0.545 76.5 0.787 53.1 1.11 44.9 2.07 42.3 

1 Castanospermum australe 0.567 91.8 0.63 85.7 0.882 81.1 0.93 74.5 1.08 52.6 1.39 31.6 

18 

Var ratio 187.9 117.35 55.15 16.12 68.83 0.98 28.64 5.83 17.32 10.08 13.97 2.63 

d.f 4,19 5,23 5,20 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,21 5,23 5,19 5,23 

f prob

Table 2.1.3 

Estimated mean diameter, bole and form score for the Duminski species trial 

Treatment 


DBH 41 

months 

DBH 80 

months 

Bole 80 

months 

Score 80 

months 

6 Eucalyptus pellita 6.32 9.78 4.32 3.143 

3 Khaya senegalensis 4.26 5.6 3.33 3.075 

5 Terminalia bellirica 4.26 4.84 3.2 3.277 

4 Chukrasia velutina * 3.98 2.6 2.879 

2 Swietenia humilis * 2.33 2.43 2.985 

1 Castanospermum australe * 1.33 1.45 3.073 

Var ratio 13.03 14.58 6.79 0.94 

d.f 4,13 5,19 5,19 5,19 

f prob 0.004

Eucalyptus pellita 

100 

80 

Castanospermum australe 

60 

40 

20 

0 

Terminalia bellirica 







Swietenia humilis 


Chukrasia velutina 

Figure 2.2.2 

Mean survival % from 7 to 80 months after planting 

120 

100 

Survival (%) 

80 

60 

40 







20 

0 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 

Age (months) 

Figure 2.2.3 


20

14 

12 

F=14.58; df=5,19; p

4 

F=0.94; df=5,19; p=0.491 

Error bars represent lsd 

3.5 

3 

2.5 

Score 1-5 

2 

1.5 

1 

0.5 

0 

Eucalyptus pellita Khaya senegalensis Terminalia bellirica Chukrasia velutina Swietenia humilis Castanospermum 

australe 

Figure 2.2.6 


Figure 2.2.7 Duminski Khaya and E. pellita plots 16 October 2007 

22

2.3 ETA Species Trial 

Aim 




the Top End NT. 








community organisations for decisions on long 

term development of farm forestry in the Top 

End. 

Using the more promising species from these 

results, develop a partnership with industry and 

establish a large scale commercial farm 

forestry demonstration trial to further promote 

wood production on cleared agricultural land. 

Trial type 


Location 

Map reference 

Latitude: 13’03.08 S 

Longitude: 131’ 02.36 E 

Nearest town 

Batchelor, NT. 


Elevation 

95 m 

Slope 

Less than 2 degrees 

Landform 

Sloping plain adjacent to creek line. 

Aspect 

Northerly 


There is Eucalyptus tetrodonta E.miniata tall 

woodland – open forest nearby. 

Erosion 

Nil. There was a good cover of native grasses 

and herbs on the site. 

Table 2.3.1 

Climate (based on Darwin Airport – NW of the site) 

Month 












humidity (%) 


humidity (%) 

81 83 83 75 66 62 62 67 70 70 73 77 

70 72 67 53 43 38 38 41 48 53 59 65 



23

Soil 

Coarse sandy loam. Originally very low pH and low in nutrients. Lime used in 50% of the trial to 

monitor effect. 



For the Karger soil preparation method, the site was ripped with a single tyne ripper to a depth of 0.5 

m. The site had to be ripped twice due to the hardness of the soil. Mataranka lime (minimum 

neutralising value 96%) was applied in-between rippings to neutralise the soil. The site was sprayed 

with glyphosate before planting. 

Establishment 


January/February 2003. 

The seedlings were planted into the rip-lines in weed-free, bare soil. Seedlings were planted at either 

4m x 1.8m spacing or 4m x 2.5m spacing as per the trial design. Seedlings were planted with 100g of 

mango blend organic pelletised fertiliser, placed on either side of the seedling, 10cm from the plant. 

Seedlings were watered at planting. 



Eucalyptus 

camaldulensis 

Treatment 

numbers 

Nursery Seed source Container 

1-4 20383 CSIRO 

TSC 

Lanneck Cell Trays 

Eucalyptus pellita 5-8 20574 Hiko Cell Trays 

Khaya senegalensis 9-16 Top End Seeds Lanneck Cell Trays 

Tectona grandis 17-24 Lincfel Nursery, 

Kunnunurra 



replicate number and the plot number stamped on it (RepNo/PlotNo). There is also a plasticised paper 

tag with the species name, provenance/seedlot name and treatment number written on it. 



The trial is a randomised complete block with 3 replicates of 24 plots. There is one treatment (spacing, 

thinning, pruning, establishment and species) assigned to each plot. For 1.8 treatments, trees are in 7 

rows of 10 trees (70 trees per plot). In 2.5 treatments, trees are in 7 rows of 7 trees (49 trees per plot). 

For each plot, tree number 1 is adjacent to the pin (see diagram). 

24

Trial design 

Batchelor Road 

112 m 

row 1 row 2 row 3 row 4 

column 1 24 17 14 21 

column 2 8 9 4 23 

REP 1 

column 3 20 15 12 18 108 m 

column 4 7 19 6 22 

column 5 16 13 11 10 

column 6 5 1 3 2 

column 1 24 3 23 10 

column 2 21 15 7 4 

REP 2 

column 3 5 18 11 9 

column 4 13 22 14 8 

column 5 12 20 19 1 Approximate location of hill/rise 

column 6 6 16 17 2 

column 1 4 10 17 12 432 m 

column 2 18 14 1 7 

column 3 24 15 11 22 

REP 3 

column 4 19 6 8 3 

column 5 16 5 21 9 

column 6 13 23 20 2 

25


1.8m spacing 2.5m spacing 

X Stake 

61 51 41 31 21 11 1 

62 52 42 32 22 12 2 

63 53 43 33 23 13 3 

64 54 44 34 24 14 4 

65 55 45 35 25 15 5 

66 56 46 36 26 16 6 

67 57 47 37 27 17 7 

68 58 48 38 28 18 8 

69 59 49 39 29 19 9 

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 

X Stake 

43 36 29 22 15 8 1 

44 37 30 23 16 9 2 

45 38 31 24 17 10 3 

46 39 32 25 18 11 4 

47 40 33 26 19 12 5 

48 41 34 27 20 13 6 

49 42 35 28 21 14 7 


The site has been slashed once or twice every year. 


Targeted weed control was carried out in the first 12 months after establishment with a low native 

perennial grass and herb cover being the goal. There were some breakouts of Gamba and mission grass 

that were target sprayed. 

Irrigation 

Low pressure T-Tape was installed prior to planting with 30cm spacing water outlets. The feeder lines 

were linked in with the main watering system for the farm. 


Leaves were pruned from teak at the time of planting. 


The trial was measured by Kevin Flockhart from GANT in June 2005. Height, DBH, bole length, fire 

status and a straightness score were measured. 

The trial was monitored in 2006 by Greening Australia staff. Tree height and DBH was measured in 

metres and centimetres respectively. The trial data was checked for uneven variance and outliers using 

Data Plus software and then analysed using Genstat software. 

Weed status 

Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) has been infesting the trial area more and more each year making 

the site more prone to fires. The new property owner does not have the resources to undertake 

comprehensive management of Gamba grass in the trial area and GANT have been liaising with the 

caretaker of the property to ensure some maintenance is carried out. Definitely room for improvement 

here. 

26


Termite activity was observed and recorded at the time of measuring in 2005. 


The adjacent paddock on the eastern side of the trial is heavily infested with Gamba grass which burns 

every year. Despite a wide graded firebreak there have been 3 fires in the trial in since establishment in 

2003. The first fire was just after establishment and only damaged the bottom plots of Replicate 3 

when the seedlings were very young. The fire was low intensity as a result of good weed control and 

damage was quite minimal. Since then there have been two more serious fires, in 2005 and 2007 as a 

result of ignited material being blown in from the fires next door. 

Results 

Overall, in terms of species, the results obtained from this site show that Eucalyptus camaldulensis, 

regardless of treatment, was the best performing species in terms of height and survival. Khaya 

senegalensis was the next best performing species, second in height, but first for DBH and form score. 

Tectona grandis showed the best mean bole height, although not statistically different from the other 

species. Eucalyptus pellita performed poorly in both height and survival, regardless of the treatment 

applied (see Table 2.3.2.). 

The tallest treatment was Eucalyptus camaldulensis 2.5 Karger, which at 32 months had a significantly 

greater estimated mean height than all other treatments, at 4.563 m (p

Table 2.3.2 

Estimated mean height, bole, diameter, score and survival for ETA treatments 

Treatm 

ent 


Height 

32 

months 

Bole 32 

months 

DBH 32 

months 

Score 32 

months 

Survival 

32 months 

3 E. camaldulensis 2.5 Karger 4.563 2.553 4.467 2.253 95.3 

2 E. camaldulensis 1.8 standard 4.427 2.537 3.817 2.65 91.9 

1 E. camaldulensis 1.8 Karger 4.253 2.55 3.723 2.477 90.5 

4 E. camaldulensis 2.5 standard 4.217 2.817 3.93 2.353 91.9 

12 Khaya senegalensis 1.8 standard 3.327 2.07 3.98 2.763 95.2 

9 Khaya senegalensis 1.8 Karger 3.2 2.2 3.967 2.717 93.3 






6 E. pellita 1.8 standard 2.663 2.107 2.57 2.163 46.2 


19 Tectona grandis 1.8 Karger 2.45 2.673 2.933 2.157 88.6 

21 Tectona grandis 2.5 Karger 2.403 2.753 2.8 1.9 85 


20 Tectona grandis 1.8 standard 2.297 2.553 2.7 2 92.9 


18 Tectona grandis 1.8 standard 2.08 2.437 2.623 2.123 84.8 

7 E. pellita 2.5 Karger 1.997 1.727 3.16 2.313 45.6 


8 E. pellita 2.5 standard 1.917 1.843 2.393 2.093 44.2 


5 E. pellita 1.8 Karger 1.16 2.393 3.02 1.323 41.4 

Var ratio 8.77 0.89 3.57 2.38 12.25 

d.f 23 23 23 23 23 

f prob

5 

4.5 


Bole 32 months 

4 

3.5 

3 

2.5 

2 

1.5 

1 

0.5 

0 

E. camaldulensis 2.5 Karger 

E. camaldulensis 1.8 standard 

E. camaldulensis 1.8 Karger 

E. camaldulensis 2.5 standard 

Khaya senegalensis 1.8 standard 

Khaya senegalensis 1.8 Karger 






E. pellita 1.8 standard 


Tectona grandis 1.8 Karger 



Tectona grandis 1.8 standard 



E. pellita 2.5 Karger 



Height (m) 



Figure 2.3.1 

Mean height and bole height at 32 months after planting 

18 

7 

23 

24 

20 

8 

17 

22 

21 

5 

19 

3 

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

13 

2 

6 

1 

14 

4 

15 

12 

16 

9 

10 

11 

1 E. camaldulensis 1.8 Karger 

2 E. camaldulensis 1.8 standard 

3 E. camaldulensis 2.5 Karger 

4 E. camaldulensis 2.5 standard 

5 E. pellita 1.8 Karger 

6 E. pellita 1.8 standard 

7 E. pellita 2.5 Karger 

8 E. pellita 2.5 standard 

9 Khaya senegalensis 1.8 Karger 

10 Khaya senegalensis 1.8 standard 







17 Tectona grandis 1.8 Karger 

18 Tectona grandis 1.8 standard 







Figure 2.3.2 

Mean survival % at 32 months after planting 

29

5 

4.5 

4 

3.5 

3 

DBH (cm) 

2.5 

2 

1.5 

1 

0.5 

0 

E. camaldulensis 1.8 

Karger 


standard 


Karger 


standard 





Khaya senegalensis 1.8 

Karger 


standard 


Karger 


standard 


Karger 


standard 


Karger 


standard 

Tectona grandis 1.8 

Karger 


standard 


Karger 


standard 


Karger 


standard 


Karger 


standard 

Figure 2.3.3 

Mean DBH at 32 months after planting 

30

Figure 2.3.4 ETA plots showing Khaya, E. camalduensis and Gamba Grass (19 October 

2007) 

Figure 2.3.5 

2007) 

ETA plots showing Khaya, E. camalduensis and Gamba Grass (19 October 

31

2.4 Fred’s Pass Species Trial 

Aim 















Trial type 

Randomised complete block with 4 replicates 

of 6 plots. 

Location 

Map reference 


Longitude: 

Nearest town 

Coolalinga 

131'02.15 E 

See Regional, district and property maps. 


Aspect 

Slight inclination to NNW 


Eucalyptus tetrodonta woodland with 

Erythrophleum chlorostachys common 

throughout. Stringy bark. 

Erosion 

There is a distinct erosion channel running 

diagonally through the trial from the SW to the 

NE corner. 

Soil 

The soil is classified as 2b1. Laterite, red, 

partly with ‘coffee rock’. Good drainage. 

Darwin Rural, Bees Creek 

Table 2.4.1 


Month 











Mean 9am relative 81 83 83 75 66 62 62 67 70 70 73 77 

humidity (%) 

Mean 3pm relative 70 72 67 53 43 38 38 41 48 53 59 65 

humidity (%) 



32



The trial is laid out with rows 3m apart and trees planted at 3 m spacings within rows. The site 

was a cleared paddock and was only slashed before ripping. The rows were ripped to a depth of 

approximately 500 mm. The riplines run across the trial from NW to SW. There was not a weed 

problem at the time of preparation. The site is not fenced. 

Establishment 


January 1999. (Tectona grandis planted Dec.99/Jan.00) 

The seedlings were planted into the rip-lines in weed-free, bare soil. The soil was moderately 

moist at the time of planting. The trees were planted with Potti-Putkis, to a depth where the root 

ball was just covered with soil. At planting 50 g of Nitrophoska (NPK) blend was buried close to 

each seedling. The trees were mulched with wood chip in February 1999. It was ensured that a 10 

m wide fire break was established around the trial. 




(Teak) 


(African mahogany) 

Sweitenia humilis 

(American mahogany) 


(West Indian cedar) 

Treatment 

number 

Seed/stripling 

source 

1 La-cumbre 

Honduras 

2 Howard Springs 

Forestry 

Reserve 

3 Striplings grown 

from Honduras 

seed 

4 DPI Queensland 

SL 5525 

Terminalia belerica 5 Howard Springs 


Reserve 

Pterocarpus indicus 

(Paduak) 

6 Howard Springs 


Reserve 

Nursery 

DPIF/GANT 

nursery, 

Berrimah 

Planted as 

striplings 

K Neitzel 

nursery 

DPIF/GANT 

nursery, 

Berrimah 

Planted as 


Planted as 


Size at 


Approx 

30cm 

Approx 

20cm 

Approx. 

30cm 

Approx. 

20cm 

Approx 

20cm 

Health 

at 


Healthy 

Healthy 

Healthy 

Healthy 

Healthy 

Healthy 


….litre 

plastic bag 

Striplings 

Striplings? 

35 Lannen 

trays 









33




Trial Design 

Fence line 

6 3 5 1 2 4 

3 6 5 4 1 2 

6 5 1 4 2 3 

1 2 5 3 4 6 

Erosion canal 

Teak 

planted 12/99 


X Stake 

43 36 29 22 15 8 1 

44 37 30 23 16 9 2 

45 38 31 24 17 10 3 

46 39 32 25 18 11 4 

47 40 33 26 19 12 5 

48 41 34 27 20 13 6 

49 42 35 28 21 14 7 



Slashing occurred every three weeks during the wet season. Glyphosate applications on November 

1999, March 2000, December 2000, April 2001, November 2001, February 2002, May 2002. 


100 g NPK per tree in October 1999, 100 g NPK December 1999, 100 g Nitrophoska Blue 

Februaury 2000, 100 g NPK in November 2000, 150 g of Nitrophoska in November 2000, 140 g 

Guanagold in January and March 2001, 120 g Terrafosca in November 2001, 150 g Nitrophoska 

Blue in February 2002, 20 g Monsoon Tablet in June 2002. 

Irrigation 

A 19mm poly with 4 L/hr dripper system irrigation installed in May/June 1999. Initially irrigation 

was used three times per week for two hours, and then once a week for six hours. 

34

Replacements 

Teaks were planted in January 2000 

Re-mulching 

Mulched with hay, May 2000, June 2001 and June 2002 


Trees were form pruned in December 2000 (not teak). Teaks were form pruned in December 

2001. 

Termite treatment 

Aggregate base drums with Mirant September 1999, July and December 2000. Principally in 

American mahogany plots in the southern part of the trial. 

Pest control 

Traps were set for possums and rats. 


The first monitoring took place on the 6 th July 1999 by Glen Bailey and included the measurement 

of tree survival and height in metres. Beau Robertson again measured the trial on the 23 rd 

November 1999 for height and survival. Kurt Neitzel measured the trees on the 13 th June 2000 and 

measured height, survival and gave them a score scaled from 1 to 5 based on stem form and 

health. Trees that showed damage from insect activity, multi-branching, damaged tips, double 

leaders, erosion damage and signs of cutting or pruning were also recorded during this period. 

Kurt Neitzel & Mike Clark inspected the site in September 2001. It was noted that the Khaya and 

Tectona required pruning and that weed control was required for Macroptilium. It was also noted 

that the mulch is too close to stem and teaks need pruning. 

The Khaya and to some extent the Sweitenia are being damaged by possums or something 

chewing the apices causing much multi stemming. There is also lateral multi-stemming, which 

may be caused by lateral pruning. The managers of the property were notified about the above 

issues. 

Beau Robertson from DPIF measured the trials in 2002. He reported: The best species are 

Pterocarpus indicus with a mean height of 6.83 m and diameter of 7.64 cm, Swietenia humilis 

with a mean height of 5.86 m and diameter of 7.3 cm and Khaya senegalensis with a mean height 

of 5.3 m and diameter of 9.41 cm. Possums are attacking the Khaya senegalensis very badly in 

this trial. They are damaging the growing shoots and also eating the bark from ground level up to 

the canopy of the tree. Observations show some damage also starting on the Pterocarpus indicus. 

Maintenance by Freds Pass staff has been very good. 

The second year monitoring included the measurement of tree survival, height in metres, diameter 

of stem 10 cm from the ground, and a score scaled from 1 to 6 for stem form, branching and 

health. Height was measured to the nearest five cm using a height pole and diameter was 

measured to the nearest mm using a pair of forestry calipers. 




Weed status 

Weed control proved effective after initial difficulties. 

35

Results 

Pterocarpus indicus has consistently been the tallest species throughout the trial and has ranked 

second throughout on DBH. Swietenia humilis ranked second on height to P. indicus but was not 

statistically different. Khaya senegalensis ranked 5th on height after 54 months, much lower than 

its high DBH would indicate. 

Survival at Freds Pass was excellent up until 42 months for all species except Tectona grandis, 

which was planted late. Species planted after the main trial site is planted often fail to thrive due to 

changes to ground preparation and weed control over time. At 54 months all species have poor 

survival (

Table 2.4.2 

Estimated mean height and survival for the Freds Pass species trial 

Treat 

ment 

Species Height 6 

months 

Survival 6 

months 

Height 

10 

months 

Survival 

10 

months 

Height 

17 

month 

s 

Survival 

17 

months 

Height 

24 

month 

s 

Survival 

24 

months 

Height 

42 

month 

s 

Survival 

42 

months 

Height 

54 

month 

s 

Survival 

54 

months 

37 

6 Pterocarpus 

indicus 

3 Swietenia 

humilis 

5 Terminalia 

bellirica 

0.702 91.3 1.473 89.8 3.463 88.8 4.572 88.8 6.707 88.8 9.52 46.4 

0.48 89.8 0.968 84.7 2.44 84.2 3.733 78.6 5.772 80.1 8.11 38.8 

0.545 92.3 1.185 89.3 2.227 91.3 3.565 91.3 5.455 91.3 7.62 47.4 

1 Tectona grandis * * * * 0.692 66.8 2.103 51.5 4.855 48.5 7.21 23 

2 Khaya 

senegalensis 

0.477 86.2 1.09 82.1 2.61 88.3 3.945 83.2 5.275 83.7 6.66 42.3 

4 Cedrela odorata 0.355 85.2 0.74 75 1.645 78.1 3.095 78.1 4.772 75 5.64 31.1 

Var ratio 7.57 94.78 6.08 56.41 31.84 2.97 15.93 7.9 8.65 7.46 5.64 4.48 

d.f 5,22 5,23 5,22 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 

f prob 0.001

Table 2.4.3 

Estimated mean diameter, bole and form score for Freds Pass species trial 

Treatment 


DBH 24 

months 

DBH 42 

months 

DBH 54 

months 

Bole 54 

months 

Score 54 

months 

2 Khaya senegalensis 6.34 9.03 12.41 3.19 3.03 

6 Pterocarpus indicus 5.11 7.75 11.86 3.44 3.295 

3 Swietenia humilis 4.83 7.31 11.08 3.36 3.283 

5 Terminalia bellirica 4.96 7.06 9.88 5.34 3.66 

1 Tectona grandis 4 5.43 8.86 5.16 3.14 

4 Cedrela odorata 4.55 6.15 7.82 3.81 3.125 

Var ratio 5.45 9.73 4.2 11 3.24 

d.f 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 

f prob 0.005


100 

80 


60 

40 


20 

0 










Figure 2.4.2 


16 

14 

12 

10 

(cm) 

8 

6 

DBH 24 months 

DBH 42 months 

DBH 54 months 

4 

2 

0 

Khaya senegalensis Pterocarpus indicus Swietenia humilis Terminalia bellirica Tectona grandis Cedrela odorata 

Figure 2.4.3 


39

7 

F=11; df=5,23; p

Figure 2.4.6 

Location of the Freds Pass Trial 

41

Figure 2.4.7 Pterocarpus at Freds Pass (16 Oct 2007) 

Figures 2.4.8a, b Insect damage at Fred’s Pass. 16 Oct 2007) 

43

Detailed Soil Assessment 

Soil pit 1 is likely to be representative of tree plots 2, 3 and 4. There were areas close to the pit with 

surface sheet rock exposed. There is also a small erosion gully that has been stabilised with foreign 

rock running through the tree plots. Possibility that this area was scraped to make the nearby area level 

playing fields, but the manager thought that this hadn’t been the case. 

Figure 2.4.9 

Soil Pit 1 Freds Pass 

44

Horizon Depth (cm) Description 

Surface 

Hard setting, with common medium gravelly (6-20mm) sized 

coarse fragments of sub-rounded shape and ironstone lithology. 

The surface was slightly rocky with some areas of exposed sheet 

rock (possibly bedrock or a laterite pan) 

A1 05-16 Very dark gray (10YR 3/1) fine sandy clay loam. Massive 

structured sub-angular blocky large peds of 10-20mm size 

breaking down to granular

Figure 2.4.10 

Soil Pit 2 Freds Pass 

46


Surface 

Hard setting with very few (

2.5 Hammett Species Trial 

Aim 















Location 

Darwin Rural 

Map reference 


Longitude: 

Nearest town 

Humpty Doo, NT. 

131'07.20 E 

See Regional, district and property maps. 


Landform 

Plain 


Open forest with stringybark, woolly butt, 

ironwood 15-20 m. spear grass. 

Trial type 


Table 2.5.1 


Month 












humidity (%) 


humidity (%) 

81 83 83 75 66 62 62 67 70 70 73 77 

70 72 67 53 43 38 38 41 48 53 59 65 



48

Soil 

Lithosol, loamy sandy with gravel, good drainage. 



The site was a cleared paddock and was previously used for growing vegetables. Ripping and tilling in 

strips of 1m wide were used in site preparation. Slashing was carried out between rows. The trial is 

laid out with rows 3 m apart and trees planted at 3 m spacings within rows. The block was fenced. 

Establishment 


January 2000. 

Some rain during planting. At planting 50 g of Nitrophoska (NPK) blend was applied close to each 

seedling. A dripper irrigation system was also installed, using partly sprayers and partly overhead 

watering. 



Treatment 

number 

Nursery Seed source Health at 


Eucalyptus pellita 1 DPIF/GA Nursery GA, DPIF, NT 

Agroforest 

Cedrela odorata 2 DPIF/GA Nursery GA, DPIF, NT 

Agroforest 

Callitris intratropica 3 DPIF/GA Nursery GA, DPIF, NT 

Agroforest 

Chukrasia velutina 4 DPIF/GA Nursery GA, DPIF, NT 

Agroforest 

Enterolobium 

cyclocarpum 

5 DPIF/GA Nursery GA, DPIF, NT 

Agroforest 

Swietenia humilis 6 DPIF/GA Nursery GA, DPIF, NT 

Agroforest 





Good 

Good 

Good 

Good 

Good 

Good 



The trial is a randomised complete block with 4 replicates of 6 plots. There is one treatment (seedlot) 

assigned to each plot in 7 rows of 7 trees (49 trees per plot). For each plot, tree number 1 is adjacent to 

the pin (see diagram). 

49

Trial design 

Rep1 

Rep2 

2 3 1 6 

4 5 3 5 

2 1 6 4 

1 5 

mix 

mix 

Housing 

4 

area 

3 

Rep3 

5 1 4 6 

2 

Rep4 

3 2 6 Teak 

Road 


X Stake 

1 8 15 22 29 36 43 

2 9 16 23 30 37 44 

3 10 17 24 31 38 45 

4 11 18 25 32 39 46 

5 12 19 26 33 40 47 

6 13 20 27 34 41 48 

7 14 21 28 35 42 49 



Some hand removal and slashing of weeds for the first six months, then neglected. Only front of trial 

treated. 

Irrigation 

Irrigation took place until the end of the wet season in 2001. 

Replacements 

Some replanting took place in February and March 2000, and further replanting in January 2001. 


No pruning. 

50


No termite treatment at this site. 

Pest control 

No pest control at this site. 


Kurt Neitzel reported: Trial surrounding house, wallabies plenty but almost no damage, termites and 

maintenance overdone. 

Mike Clark and Kurt Neitzel inspected the site in September 2001. They reported that some of the 

trees were being choked out by weeds. Follow up: needs termite control . 

The plantation urgently requires mulching and fertilising (100g/tree except Callitris). Sent Trent and 

Geoff down in the early wet season with the spray unit. Organise for Green Reserves to come for 

maintenance. 

S. macrophylla being attacked by termites. Some neglected areas in the trial, mission grass bad and 

Calopo choking out Chukrasia. Irrigation was taken out this year 

Site was well managed in the first half year, but later neglected causing losses, deformation and 

stunted growth. There was obvious nutrition deficiency in the front part of the plantation. 

Recommendation: not to follow up as a trial as variation within the site too great. 

Beau Robertson monitored this site in 2002. He reported that the site had potential, but through a lack 

of maintenance it was performing poorly. No species were reported as growing well here, as weeds 

dominated the site in the early stages, particularly Callopo. 

The trial was monitored in 2006 by Greening Australia staff. Tree height and DBH were measured in 



Weed status 

At the front of the plantation weed control was good, however the back of the plantation was 

neglected. 

Results 

At both 30 months and 70 months, Enterolobium cyclocarpum proved the tallest species in the trial, 

although not significantly different from Euclayptus pellita or Callitris intratropica. Enterolobium 

cyclocarpum also showed the greatest estimated DBH mean at 70 months of 11.7 cm, although the 

difference was not significant. 

Survival at this site was poor, particularly in relation to other sites in this trial. At 30 months, for all 

species except Callitris intratropica, survival had fallen below 50%. Callitris intratropica 

significantly outperformed other species for survival at 30 months and also at 70 months, at 91.8% 

(p

Table 2.5.2 

Estimated mean height, survival, diameter, bole and form score for the Hammett species trial 

52 

Treatment 

5 

1 

3 

6 

4 

2 


Height 30 

months 

Survival 

30 months 

DBH 30 

months 

Height 

70 

months 

Survival 

70 months 

Bole 70 

months 

DBH 70 

months 

Enterolobium 

cyclocarpum 3.35 34.2 * 6.42 36.7 * 11.7 2.7 

Eucalyptus 

pellita 2.85 45.9 * 4.95 32.7 4.12 4.89 3.03 

Callitris 

intratropica 2.29 91.8 * 4.68 91.3 3.94 * * 

Swietenia 

humilis 1.7 28.1 * 3.23 19.4 2.99 3.85 2.29 

Chukrasia 

velutina 1.68 48 5.542 2.27 19.4 1.56 2.61 2.45 

Cedrela 

odorata 0.96 18.9 4.235 2.23 5.6 1.79 8.66 2.43 

Score 70 

months 

Var ratio 6.7 7.96 66.27 7.52 18.62 18.31 9.57 1.1 

d.f 5,22 5,23 4,11 5,19 5,23 5,18 5,19 5,19 

f prob 0.002

9 

8 

7 

6 

(m) 

5 

4 



3 

2 

1 

0 

Enterolobium cyclocarpum 


Callitris intratropica 




Figure 2.5.1 

Mean height 30 and 70 months after planting 


100 

80 


60 

40 


20 

0 






Figure 2.5.2 

Mean survival % from 30 and 70 months after planting 

53

16 

14 

F=9.57; df=5,19; p=0.001 


12 

10 

(cm) 

8 

6 

4 

2 

0 






Figure 2.5.3 


6 

F=18.31; df=5,18; p

2.6 Hayman Species Trial 

Aim 










program that will provide information for 

industry, landholders, government and 




Location 

Darwin Rural 

Map reference 


Longitude: 

Nearest town 

Parap, NT. 


Landform 


131'04.00 E 


Open woodland, stringybark, ironwood, 15-20 

m height 

Trial type 


Table 2.6.1 


Month 












humidity (%) 


humidity (%) 

81 83 83 75 66 62 62 67 70 70 73 77 

70 72 67 53 43 38 38 41 48 53 59 65 



55



The site was a cleared paddock that was previously a mango plantation. The site was ripped (but 

partly not) in accordance to projected tree lines. Slashing took place and glyphosate was applied 

along tree lines. The trial is laid out with rows 3m apart and trees planted at 3 m spacings within 

rows. Fencing for the site was already in place. 

Establishment 


December 1999 – February/March 2000. 

At planting 50g of Nitrophoska (NPK) blend was applied on the surface soil close to each 

seedling. A dripper system was installed in March/April 2000. 



Treatment 

number 



Swietenia humilis 1 DPIF GA, DPIF, NT 

Agroforest 

Eucalyptus pellita 2 DPIF GA, DPIF, NT 

Agroforest 

Chukrasia velutina 3 DPIF GA, DPIF, NT 

Agroforest 

Cedrela odorata 4 DPIF GA, DPIF, NT 

Agroforest 

Swietenia macrophylla 5 DPIF GA, DPIF, NT 

Agroforest 

Tectona grandis 6 DPIF GA, DPIF, NT 

Agroforest 

Good 

Good 

Good 

Good 

Good 

Good 










56

Trial design 

STUART HIGHWAY 

Natural Stand - Strip - 

~160 m 

1 3 5 6 2 4 IV 

Mangos 

90 m 

3 1 5 4 6 2 III 

1 5 6 4 2 3 II 

6 2 5 3 4 1 I 

123 m 

~42 m 


X Stake 

1 8 15 22 29 36 43 

2 9 16 23 30 37 44 

3 10 17 24 31 38 45 

4 11 18 25 32 39 46 

5 12 19 26 33 40 47 

6 13 20 27 34 41 48 

7 14 21 28 35 42 49 



Glyphosate was applied twice each wet season. Slashing was also carried out within rows twice 

each wet season. 


100g NPK per tree in May/June 2000, 150g NPK December 2000. 

Irrigation 

A dripper system was installed in March/April 2000. Initially the system was used four 

times/week for four hours. Irrigation was turned off at the end of the 2001 dry season. 


Individual trees were mulched in June 2000. 


Eucalyptus pellita trees (1.5-2m) were form and stem pruned in the wet season 2001/2002. 


Aggregate base drums with Mirant in November 2001. 

57

Pest control 

Irrigation was used to control bandicoots. 


Generally the site is in very good condition. The Teak is growing well but on shallow parts behind 

other plots (as expected) leaves are being attacked. Cedrela growth is uneven but satisfactory, and 

the Chukrasia shows good growth. Swietenia macrophylla and Swietenia humilis are showing 

good growth but some are being attacked by termites. Eucalyptus pellita is showing very good 

growth, as is Khaya senegalensis. The site is very well maintained. 

Mike Clark and Kurt Neitzel inspected the site in September 2001. They reported that termites 

were attacking the Swietenia humilis, and that watering was occurring once every 4 days for 3 

hours. 

Beau Robertson inspected the site in July 2002. He reported the best species as being Eucalyptus 

pellita (mean ht 5.38 m & mean diameter 5.92 cm) and Tectona grandis (mean height 4.22 m and 

mean diameter 4.19 cm). He also reported a reasonable amount of termite damage in this trial 

affecting the Teak, Eucalyptus pellita and Swietenia species. Some of the smaller Swietenia 

species were also starting to show signs of drought stress after the irrigation had been turned off or 

cut back. The site had been maintained fairly well, however some time was recommended to be 

spent on pruning the Teak. 

The trial was monitored in 2006 by Greening Australia staff. Tree and bole height and DBH was 

measured in metres and centimetres respectively. The trial data was checked for uneven variance 

and outliers using Data Plus software and then analysed using Genstat software. 

Weed status 

Large amounts of Pangola grass at the site. 


Stem borers were found in the branch axis of Eucalyptus pellita. The leaves of the teaks were also 

attacked. Some termite damage also seen in Swietenia humilis (20% in plot of Rep I, close to 

natural stand), in Eucalyptus pellita and Teak (only 1-3 trees). 


The teaks suffered after the water was turned off after the 2001 dry season. Termites attacked 

mainly Swietenia humilis. The termite control appeared to work well. The site was noted to be 

well maintained. 

Results 

Eucalyptus pellita proved consistently the tallest species throughout the trial (see Table 2.6.2), and 

was significantly taller than all other species at 54 months at 7.09 m (p

Table 2.6.2 

Estimated mean height, survival, diameter, bole and form score for the Hayman species trial 

Treat 

ment 


Height 

6 

months 

Survival 

6 

months 

Height 

14 

month 

s 

Survival 

14 

months 

Height 

30 

month 

s 

Survival 

30 

months 

DBH 

30 

month 

s 

Height 

54 

month 

s 

Survival 

54 

months 

Bole 54 

month 

s 

DBH 

54 

month 

s 

Score 

54 

month 

s 

2 Eucalyptus pellita 0.82 89.8 2.293 88.3 5.14 86.7 5.51 7.09 78.6 3.807 8.94 2.975 

6 Tectona grandis 0.642 95.41 2.288 92.3 4.46 88.8 4.61 5.86 86.2 3.53 7.46 3.045 

3 Chukrasia velutina 0.255 99.49 1.408 98.5 3.49 97.4 4.64 5.7 94.9 3.542 7.54 3.372 

5 Swietenia macrophylla 0.422 98.47 1.323 94.9 3.53 86.2 4.04 5.58 77 3.53 5.81 3.207 

1 Swietenia humilis 0.255 96.43 1.14 85.2 3.16 77.6 3.83 5.46 79.6 3.09 6.09 3.065 

4 Cedrela odorata 0.372 97.45 1.055 89.8 2.59 83.2 3.6 3.52 62.2 2.673 3.6 2.667 

59 

Var ratio 6.48 3.61 11.1 1.01 14.04 1.47 4.58 7.78 2.74 4.09 10.64 4.36 

d.f 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,23 

f prob 0.002 0.024


100 

80 


60 

40 


20 

0 







Swietenia macrophylla 

Figure 2.6.1 


9 

8 

7 

6 

(m) 

5 

4 





3 

2 

1 

0 




Swietenia 

macrophylla 



Figure 2.6.2 

Mean height from 6 to 54 months after planting 

60

5 

4.5 

F=4.09; df=5,23; p=0.015 


4 

3.5 

3 

(m) 

2.5 

2 

1.5 

1 

0.5 

0 

Eucalyptus pellita Tectona grandis Chukrasia velutina Swietenia macrophylla Swietenia humilis Cedrela odorata 

Figure 2.6.3 

Mean bole height (m) at 54 months after planting 

12 

10 

8 

(cm) 

6 

DBH 30 months 

DBH 54 months 

4 

2 

0 

Eucalyptus pellita Tectona grandis Chukrasia velutina Swietenia 

macrophylla 



Figure 2.6.4 


61

4 

3.5 

F=4.36; df=5,23; p=0.012 


3 

2.5 

Score 1-5 

2 

1.5 

1 

0.5 

0 

Eucalyptus pellita Tectona grandis Chukrasia velutina Swietenia macrophylla Swietenia humilis Cedrela odorata 

Figure 2.6.5 


Figure 2.6.6 Hayman Chukrasia plot (16 Oct 2007) 

62

2.7 Hickey Species Trial 

Aim 

Identify best appearance grade tropical 














Location 


Map reference 


Longitude: 

132'13.00 E 

Nearest town 

Katherine, NT. See Regional, district and 

property maps. 


Landform 



Shrubs, light timber. 

Trial type 


Table 2.7.1 


Month 

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Total Avg 


Mean monthly 






Mean daily max 

temp 

Mean daily min 

temp 

235.0 216.5 161.3 32.9 5.7 2.1 1.0 0.5 5.9 29.2 88.2 197.7 976.1 

101.4 74.5 23.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 25.3 80.9 620.6 

391.0 355.7 334.8 99.5 23.0 3.9 0.0 0.2 23.4 78.9 166.3 338.6 1315.0 

35.0 34.3 34.5 34.0 32.1 30.0 30.1 32.5 35.4 37.7 38.0 36.5 34.2 

24.0 23.7 22.9 20.4 17.1 14.1 13.2 15.5 19.6 23.6 24.7 24.4 20.2 



Mean daily 

evaporation 


humidity (%) 


humidity (%) 

77 81 77 64 58 56 52 52 52 56 62 71 63 

54 57 51 37 34 31 27 25 25 28 35 45 37 



63

Soil 

‘Red Tippera’, calcareous deep reddish soil, loamy to clay (low water table during wet

Trial design 

~161 m 

5 1 3 5 6 4 1 2 Rep I 

Rep IV 2 6 1 5 4 3 2 6 Rep II 

3 4 6 1 2 4 3 5 

Demo- 

Site 

Rep III 

Gas Pipe line 

Power line 

Florina Road 


X Stake 

1 8 15 22 29 36 43 

2 9 16 23 30 37 44 

3 10 17 24 31 38 45 

4 11 18 25 32 39 46 

5 12 19 26 33 40 47 

6 13 20 27 34 41 48 

7 14 21 28 35 42 49 



Slashing and spraying was applied to control weeds. 


100g of Nitrophoska was applied per tree every 6 months. 

Irrigation 

T-tape irrigation was installed in May 2000. 

Replacements 

Replacement trees were planted in March 2000. 


Some form pruning did occur at this site. 


Kurt Neitzel reported the installation of irrigation in May 2000. Planting with Green Corps and 

volunteers. 

Canariums were noted as too small at the time of planting. There was also some slashing damage. 

2000/01 wet – high water table. Teak produced small leaves. Losses in Canarium and Callitris 

significant possibly due to plant stock and high water table. 

Mike Clark and Kurt Neitzel inspected the site in September 2001. They reported: 4 x 3 spacings. Gap 

planting of Blephocarya involucrigera. Acacia auriculiformis was used to refill the Canariums that did 

not survive. 

65

Acacia mangium can be grown as a timber tree (substitute for teak) In the Philippines – rotation of 12 

years. Have been known to be attacked by termites after 7 years. The landholders did their own 

replanting and are keen to start pruning. 

Beau Robertson monitored this site in 2002. He reported this as a very good site, but also mentioned 

there was no evidence of any pruning at all, and the teak needed pruning as soon as possible. Some 

trees were very well formed and tall in this trial, such as Eucalyptus pellita (mean height 5.59 m and 

diameter of 7.07 cm), along with some Khaya senegalensis (mean height 4.97 m and diameter of 7.35 

cm). 

The trial was monitored in 2006 by Greening Australia staff. Tree height and DBH (bole) was 

measured in metres and centimetres respectively. The trial data was checked for uneven variance and 



Some infestation of insects on Teak leafs. Termite damage to T. grandis and E. pellita was observed at 

Hickey on the Tippera soil in 2000/01. 


Some damages while slashing (big tractor) 

Losses in “natives”, Canarium and Callitris, significant. 

Results 

Comparisons between estimated height means at 65 months show no significant difference between 

the tallest 3 species, Tectona grandis (6.453 m), Eucalyptus pellita (6.432m) and Swietenia humilis 

(5.998 m). The tallest 3 species also showed no significant difference between their diameters, 

although Eucalyptus pellita showed the largest diameter at 9.57 cm. 

Tectona grandis showed the highest survival rate of the trial at 65 months (89.3%), which was 

significantly different to all other species (p

Table 2.7.2 Estimated height, survival, bole, diameter and form score for the Hickey species 

trial 

Treat 

ment 


Height 

65 

months 

Survival 

65 

months 

Bole 65 

months 

DBH 65 

months 

Score 65 

months 

2 Tectona grandis 6.453 89.3 2.532 9.11 2.94 

5 Eucalyptus pellita 6.432 20.4 4.317 9.57 2.949 


3 Canarium australianum 3.563 30.6 2.09 4.8 2.785 

4 Callitris intratropica 2.908 45.4 2.165 3.29 2.5 

Var ratio 55.82 25.03 15.72 18.69 1.34 

d.f 4,18 5,23 4,18 4,18 4,18 

f prob


100 

80 


60 

40 


20 

0 

Canarium australianum 



Figure 2.7.2 


6 

F=15.72; df=4,18; p

14 

F=18.69; df=4,18; p

Figure 2.7.8 Hickey Trial Swietenia plot (19 October 2007) 

70

2.8 Howard Springs Species 

Trial 

Aim 







Trial type 


Location 

Latitude: -12 o 28’ 13” S 

Longitude: 131 o 02’ 12” 

Nearest town 

Howard Springs, Darwin Rural. 










Month 












humidity (%) 


humidity (%) 

81 83 83 75 66 62 62 67 70 70 73 77 

70 72 67 53 43 38 38 41 48 53 59 65 



Establishment 


January 2001 

71



Treatment number 

Terminalia microcarpa 1 

Erythrophleum chlorostachys 2 

Syzygium armstrongii 3 

Maranthes corymbose 4 

Santalum album 5 

Canarium australianum 6 

Syzygium forte 7 

Melia azedarach 8 

Casuarina cunninghamiana 9 

Acacia mangium 10 

Acacia auriculiformis 11 

Acacia peregrina 12 










Trial design 


X Stake 

1 7 13 19 25 31 

2 8 14 20 26 32 

3 9 15 21 27 33 

4 10 16 22 28 34 

5 11 17 23 29 35 

6 12 18 24 30 36 

72


The trial was monitored in 2006 by Greening Australia staff. Tree height and DBH were measured in 



Results 

A comparison of estimated survival means at 47 months across species showed no significant 

difference, however Maranthes corymbosa had the highest survival percentage of this trial at a mean 

of 96.3%. Survival at this site was particularly poor for Acacia peregrina (1.9%), Acacia 

auriculiformis (25%) and Acacia mangium (19.4%). Survival of other species in comparison to other 

sites in this trial appears average. 

Despite a poor survival percentage, the surviving Acacia mangium did very well at this trial. Although 

comparison of estimated height means and DBH means showed no significant difference across 

species, Acacia mangium proved the tallest at 4.41 m , and also had the greatest DBH at 4.44 cm. 

Acacia mangium also had the largest estimated bole mean of this trial, at 2.827 m, which was 

significantly different to other species (p=0.016). 

Table 2.8.2 Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and form score for the Howard 

Springs species trial 

Treatment 

Name of species 

Height 

47 

months 

Survival 

47 

months 

Bole 47 

months 

DBH 47 

months 

Score 47 

months 

10 Acacia mangium 4.41 19.4 2.827 4.44 2.603 

8 Melia azedarach 3.17 78.7 1.663 2.03 2.767 

4 Maranthes corymbosa 2.83 96.3 0.687 2 2.673 

9 Casuarina cunninghamiana 2.69 65.7 1.73 1.68 3.227 

11 Acacia auriculiformis 2.64 25 1.127 3.28 2.903 

3 Syzygium armstrongii 2.3 73.1 1.65 1.74 2.69 

7 Syzygium forte 2.07 88 0.973 1.14 2.757 

5 Santalum album 1.95 79.6 0.81 0.93 3.27 

1 Terminalia microcarpa 1.49 47.2 1.143 0.77 3.69 

6 Canarium australianum 1.31 60.2 1.343 1.77 2.8 

2 Erythrophleum chlorostachys 0.44 57.4 * * * 

12 Acacia peregrina * 1.9 * * * 

Var ratio 5.41 19.05 2.9 3.19 3.84 

d.f 11,34 11,35 11,33 11,32 11,33 

f prob

7 

6 

F=5.41; df=11,34; p

4.5 

4 

F=2.9; df=11,33; p=0.016 


3.5 

3 

Bole height (m) 

2.5 

2 

1.5 

1 

0.5 

0 

Acacia mangium 

Melia azedarach 

Maranthes corymbosa 

Casuarina cunninghamiana 

Acacia auriculiformis 

Syzygium armstrongii 

Syzygium forte 

Santalum album 

Terminalia microcarpa 


Figure 2.8.3 


7 

6 

F=3.19; df=11,32; p=0.013 


5 

DBH (cm) 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 











Figure 2.8.4 


75

4.5 

4 

F=3.84; df=11,33; p=0.004 


3.5 

3 

Score 1-5 

2.5 

2 

1.5 

1 

0.5 

0 











Figure 2.8.5 


76

Location of the Howard Springs trial 

77

2.9 Humphris Species Trial 

Aim 















Location 

Map reference 


Longitude: 

Nearest town 

Humpty Doo, NT. 

Soil 

Grey podzolic soils. 


131'29.55 E 


The site had been a hay paddock for seven 

years, and had not been fertilised for three 

years prior to the trial. The site had been burnt 

prior to planting to remove weeds. The rows 

were ripped along tree lines. The site is fenced. 

Trial type 



Month 












humidity (%) 


humidity (%) 

81 83 83 75 66 62 62 67 70 70 73 77 

70 72 67 53 43 38 38 41 48 53 59 65 



78

Establishment 


December 1998. 

Seedlings were planted into the rip-lines in weed-free, bare soil. At planting 50g of Nitrophoska 

(NPK) blend was buried close to each seedling. The trees were not mulched at planting. It was 

ensured that a 4-10 metre fire break was established around the trial. 



Castanospermum australe 1 

Treatment 

number 

Seed source 

Size at planting 

Khaya senegalensis 2 Quld Forestry SLN 

5635 

Nauclea orientalis 3 

Enterolobium cyclocarpum 4 

Eucalyptus pellita 5 Quld Forestry & 

SLN 19718 

Stripling 

Stripling 

Pterocarpus macrocarpus 6 SLN 19852 Container grown 










Trial design 

Replicate no 

IV 1 4 3 5 2 6 

III 3 2 4 6 5 1 

II 2 6 4 5 1 3 

I 4 2 6 5 3 1 

79


X Stake 

1 8 15 22 29 36 43 

2 9 16 23 30 37 44 

3 10 17 24 31 38 45 

4 11 18 25 32 39 46 

5 12 19 26 33 40 47 

6 13 20 27 34 41 48 

7 14 21 28 35 42 49 



Controlled cattle grazing and slashing were used to control weeds. 


50 g NPK per tree was applied in the 1999/2000 wet season. Compost was placed at the base of 

trees in the 1999 dry season. 

Irrigation 

Irrigation of 11 litres twice per week occurred in the 2001 dry season, using micro-sprays. 

Replacements 

Replanting took place in March 1999. 


Spear grass mulch was placed on the drier parts of the trial in the second year. 


Trees were form and stem pruned in August 2001 using pneumatic pruners. 


Aggregate base drums with Mirant in the third dry season. 


Kurt Neitzel reported: Site potential overestimated (surrounding vegetation), heavy soils 

Losses , replanting of whole plots partly mixed ( Leichardt Pine, Melaleuca leucadendra, 

Syzygium armstrongii etc). 

Mike Clark and Kurt Neitzel inspected the site in September 2001. They reported: Some major 

failures here: 

• Planting material was not the best and planting was a bit rushed in the first year of 

plantings. Drainage also seems to be a problem. 

• Looked at a range of native species. Nauclea and Melaleuca doing well. 

• From an economic focus, E. pellita would be the best bet. 

• Need more Acacia auriculiformis and A. mangium. 

80

• The plantation needs form pruning. 

Beau Robertson reported in 2002 of this being a very poor site (not irrigated). Eucalyptus pellita 

in replication 1 and 2 were reported as growing well as were a few Khaya senegalensis. The 

Eucalyptus pellita was recorded with a mean height of 4.38 m and a diameter of 6.06 cm. 

Maintenance by the landowner on this trial had been fair. Beau Robertson recommended that this 

site not be measured again and that a more suitable species should be planted here. The trial was 

monitored in 2006 by Greening Australia staff. Tree height and DBH (bole) was measured in 

metres and centimetres respectively. The trial data was checked for uneven variance and outliers 

using Data Plus software and then analysed using Genstat software. 


Termites were noted as a big problem for Eucalyptus pellita in the 2002 dry season. 

Results 

Eucalyptus pellita has consistently been the tallest species at this site, with a significant difference 

in estimated mean height from other species throughout the trial (all height measurements 

p

Table 2.9.2 

Estimated mean height and survival for the Humphris species trial 

Treat 

ment 


Height 

6 

month 

s 

Survival 

6 

months 

Height 

20 

month 

s 

Survival 

20 

months 

Height 

28 

months 

Survival 

28 

months 

Height 

42 

month 

s 

Survival 

42 

months 

Height 

70 

month 

s 

5 Eucalyptus pellita 0.71 74.5 1.805 63.3 2.922 74.5 4.41 65.8 6.49 50.5 

6 Pterocarpus macrocarpus 0.225 85.7 0.446 39.3 1.367 73.5 3.04 65.8 4.39 68.9 

2 Khaya senegalensis 0.18 95.4 0.321 41.3 0.985 69.4 1.88 56.1 3.86 51.5 

1 Castanospermum australe * 31.6 * 15.8 0.48 23.5 * 10.2 3.36 26.5 

3 Nauclea orientalis 0.2017 45.9 0.101 27.6 0.992 36.2 1.71 34.2 2.14 37.2 

4 Enterolobium cyclocarpum * 14.8 0.421 43.4 1.067 27.6 1.6 23 * 4.1 

Survival 

70 

months 

82 

Var ratio 177.58 7.07 86.18 1.88 29.98 6.04 20.28 8.93 22.94 10.14 

d.f 5,17 5,23 5,12 5,23 5,20 5,23 5,20 5,23 5,20 5,23 

f prob

Table 2.9.3 Estimated diameter, bole and form score for the Humphris species trial 

Treatm 

ent 


DBH 42 

months 

DBH 70 

months 

Bole 70 

months 

5 Eucalyptus pellita 5.93 7.3 4.482 3.2 

Score 70 

months 

6 Pterocarpus macrocarpus 3.7 4.65 2.12 2.67 

2 Khaya senegalensis 3.44 4.87 3.238 2.72 

1 Castanospermum australe * 5.07 2.668 3.49 

3 Nauclea orientalis * 3.58 2.15 2.99 

4 Enterolobium cyclocarpum * * * * 

Var ratio 17.09 5.43 19.36 1.07 

d.f 5,16 4,19 4,19 4,19 

f prob


100 

80 


60 

40 

Pterocarpus macrocarpus 

20 

0 






Nauclea orientalis 



Figure 2.9.2 


120 

100 

Survival (%) 

80 

60 

40 







20 

0 

0 Survival 6 months Survival 20 

months 

Survival 28 

months 

Survival 42 

months 

Survival 70 

months 

Figure 2.9.3 


84

10 

9 

F=5.43; df=4,19; p=0.01 


8 

7 

6 

(cm) 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

Eucalyptus pellita Pterocarpus macrocarpus Khaya senegalensis Castanospermum australe Nauclea orientalis 

Figure 2.9.4 


6 

F=19.36; df=4,19; p

5 

4.5 

F=1.07; df=4,19; p=0.412 


4 

3.5 

3 

Score 1-5 

2.5 

2 

1.5 

1 

0.5 

0 

Eucalyptus pellita Pterocarpus macrocarpus Khaya senegalensis Castanospermum australe Nauclea orientalis 

Figure 2.9.6 


86

2.10 Kohler Species Trial 

Aim 















Trial type 


Location 

Latitude: 

Longitude: 

Nearest town 

Noonamah, NT. 

12'41.15 S 

131'05.25 E 

Table 2.10.1 


Month 












humidity (%) 


humidity (%) 

81 83 83 75 66 62 62 67 70 70 73 77 

70 72 67 53 43 38 38 41 48 53 59 65 





This trial has alternating rows of species, Khaya senegalensis as the main species, and Khaya nyasica, 

Swietenia humilis and Tectona grandis as the alternating species. 

87

Establishment 


23 December 2000. 

Trees were planted with a spacing of 3 m x 3 m. 



Treatment number Seed source 

Khaya senegalensis M Howard Springs 


Swietenia humilis 2 Honduras 


Saragonza 








assigned to each plot in 10 rows of 10 trees (100 trees per plot). For each plot, tree number 1 is 

adjacent to the pin (see diagram). 

Trial design 

Homestead 

Mangos 

Outer line: 40 Khaya senegalensis not planted 

8 plants missing (1) 

3 1 2 1 1 3 

I II III IV 

2 1 3 2 3 2 

6 rows (3) 

Old Bynoe Road 

88


X Stake 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 

61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 

71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 

81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 

91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 


Mike Clark and Kurt Neitzel inspected the site in September 2001. They reported: Khaya main species 

every 2nd row. Reasons – bread & butter of income and not enough other spp 

Well looked after, could do with some assistance from Green Reserves etc for mulching. Water on for 

0.5-1 hour overnight. Trees need mulching and fertilising. 

Beau Robertson inspected the site in July 2002. The top of the trial was reported as having been burnt 

(about 3 plots). All species here were reported as showing very poor growth with a mean height of 

only 0.50 m (Tectona grandis). 




Results 

Khaya senegalensis, as the main trial species at this site, was the tallest species after 59 months (see 

Figure 2.10.1.). Looking at the least significant difference of these results (see Tables 2.10.2 and 

2.10.3), Khaya senegalensis was significantly taller at 2.45 m (p=0.693). Although not statistically 

significant, Khaya senegalensis showed better results than all other species at this site for survival, 

bole, and DBH. Swietenia humilis had the best form score after 59 months at 3.19, although this was 

not a significant difference. 

Survival of Khaya nyasica at this site was extremely poor, at only 3.5% after 59 months. This may 

have been largely the result of the site being burnt in 2002. 

89

Table 2.10.2 Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and form score for the Kohler 

species trial 

Treat 

ment 


Height 

59 

months 

Survival 

59 

months 

Bole 59 

months 

DBH 59 

months 

Score 59 

months 

3 Tectona grandis 1.1 70.5 1.37 1.35 1.9 

2 Swietenia humilis 1.06 64 1.46 1.23 3.19 

1 Khaya nyasica 0.82 3.5 * * * 

Var ratio 0.39 18.14 0.12 0.22 3.94 

d.f 2,11 2,11 2,7 1,6 2,8 

f prob 0.693 0.003 0.896 0.685 0.145 

lsd 0.816 30.02 1.456 1.102 1.739 

Table 2.10.3 Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and form score for the main 

species at the Kohler species trial 

Treat 

ment 


Height 

59 

month 

s 

s.e. 

Survival 

59 

months 

Bole 59 

month 

s 

s.e. 

DBH 

59 

month 

s 

s.e. 

Score 

59 

month 

s 

s.e. 

M 

(main) 

Khaya 

senegalensis 2.45 

0.0 

7 77.67 2.17 

0.0 

6 2.78 

0.0 

9 3.00 

0.0 

6 

90

3.50 

F=0.39; df=2,11, p=0.693 


3.00 

2.50 

2.00 

(m) 

1.50 

1.00 

0.50 

0.00 

Khaya senegalensis Tectona grandis Swietenia humilis Khaya nyasica 

Figure 2.10.1 

Mean height at 69 months after planting 


80 

60 

40 

20 


0 


Khaya nyasica 

Figure 2.10.2 


91

4.00 

3.50 

F=0.12; df=2,7; p=0.896 


3.00 

2.50 

(m) 

2.00 

1.50 

1.00 

0.50 

0.00 

Khaya senegalensis Tectona grandis Swietenia humilis 

Figure 2.10.3 


4.50 

4.00 

F=0.22; df=1,6; p=0.685 


3.50 

3.00 

2.50 

(cm) 

2.00 

1.50 

1.00 

0.50 

0.00 


Figure 2.10.4 


92

6.00 

F=3.94; df=2,8; p=0.145 


5.00 

4.00 

Score 1-5 

3.00 

2.00 

1.00 

0.00 


Figure 2.10.5 


Figure 2.10.6 Koehler trial showing Khaya plot 18 Oct 2007 

93

Figure 2.10.7 

Koehler trial showing Swietenia and acacia regrowth 

94

2.11 McGuffog (now Wing) 

Species Trial 

Aim 












Trial type 


Location 

Latitude: 

Longitude: 

Nearest town 

Noonamah, NT. 

12'38.06 S 

131'02.10 E 




Table 2.11.1 


Month 












humidity (%) 


humidity (%) 

81 83 83 75 66 62 62 67 70 70 73 77 

70 72 67 53 43 38 38 41 48 53 59 65 



Establishment 


December 2000. 

95



Treatment 

number 

Seed source 

Eucalyptus pellita M SLN 19719, 18602, 19672, 

19128, 19718 


Khaya senegalensis 2 Howard Springs 











Trial design 

Fruit trees 

3 1 2 1 1 3 

2 1 3 2 3 2 

Borderline 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

Planting pattern 

others 





Main 






96


X Stake 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 

61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 

71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 

81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 

91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 


Mike Clark and Kurt Neitzel inspected the site in September 2001. They reported: Khaya nyasica 

doing very well as well as E. pellita ( although a few losses for the latter). The site appears to be 

well watered and mulched (from monitoring of trials.doc). 

Beau Robertson inspected the site in July 2002. He reported the best species as being Khaya 

senegalensis (mean height 2.5 m). Eucalyptus pellita (2.28 m) and Swietenia humilis (2.28 m) 

were the next best. In all he reported this as a very good and well maintained trial, probably one 

of the best of the latter established trials. There was report of some damage from borers in the 

Eucalyptus pellita. 




Results 

All indicators measured at this site show that all species performed extremely well in comparison 

to other sites in this trial. All species showed exceptional survival rates, all of them being above 

60% after 49 months. All species also showed good height, bole and DBH, as well as form score 

(see Tables 2.11.2 and 2.11.3.). 

Although not the main trial species, Khaya senegalensis was the tallest species in this trial at 6.41 

m after 49 months, showed the best survival percentage (97%), and had the greatest bole (3.5 m) 

and DBH (7.98 cm), although none of these were statistically significant. The main species, 

Eucalyptus pellita, showed similar suitability to this site, at 5.46 m in height, 78.55% survival, 

3.34 m bole and 7.01cm in diameter after 49 months. Based only on these apparent trends, Khaya 

senegalensis and Eucalyptus pellita appear to be the most suitable species for this site. 

97

Table 2.11.2 

Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and form score for the McGuffog species trial 

Treat 

ment 


Height 

18 

months 

Survival 

18 

months 

Height 

49 

months 

Survival 

49 

months 

Bole 49 

months 

DBH 49 

months 

Score 49 

months 

2 Khaya senegalensis 2.505 97 6.41 97 3.5 7.98 2.88 

3 Khaya nyasica 1.648 87 4.02 64.5 3.02 4.05 3.05 

1 Swietenia humilis 1.428 81 3.28 63 2.86 3.69 2.76 

Var ratio 16.01 1.99 34.09 4.89 2.5 50.93 0.6 

d.f 2,11 2,11 2,11 2,11 2,11 2,11 2,11 

f prob 0.004 0.218

8 

7 

6 

5 

(m) 

4 



3 

2 

1 

0 

Khaya senegalensis Eucalyptus pellita Khaya nyasica Swietenia humilis 

Figure 2.11.1 



100 

80 

60 

40 

20 


0 

Khaya nyasica 




Figure 2.11.2 


99

120 

100 

80 

(%) 

60 


Khaya nyasica 



40 

20 

0 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 

months 

Figure 2.11.3 


4.5 

F=2.5; df=2,11; p=0.163 


4 

3.5 

3 

2.5 

(m) 

2 

1.5 

1 

0.5 

0 

Khaya senegalensis Eucalyptus pellita Khaya nyasica Swietenia humilis 

Figure 2.11.3 


100

10 

9 

F=50.93; df=2,11; p

Figure 2.11.7 McGuffog (Wing) trial E. pellita (17 Oct 2007) 

Figure 2.11.8 McGuffog (Wing) trial Khaya senegalensis and E. pellita plots (17 Oct 2007) 

102

Figure 2.11.9 McGuffog (Wing) trial Khaya senegalensis and E. pellita plots (17 Oct 2007) 

103


Wing soil pit 1 representative of the western end of tree plot 2 and is located off the slight rise and 

more on the flat. Soil around this area has been pugged indicating periods of surface water-logging. 

The trees were very ordinary growing on this soil type. The soil type was typified by a bleached clay 

pan over a continuous very strongly cemented ironstone pan. 

Figure 2.11.10 Soil Pit 1 Wing 

104


Surface 



B22 160-200 Yellowish red (5YR 4/6) medium clay with few medium sized 

distinct mottles of light greenish grey (Gley1 7/1) color. Strongly 

structured 10-20mm large sized peds of sub-angular blocky shape 

breaking down to moderately structured small peds of 5-10mm 

size of sub-angular blocky shape. Consistence was of firm 

strength and slightly sticky, soil moisture status was tepid. There 

were few coarse gravelly (20-60mm) ironstone coarse fragments 

of angular platy shape. No roots present in this horizon. With 

gradual change to 

B23 200-240 Yellowish red (5YR 4/6) sandy clay loam with few medium sized 

distinct mottles of light greenish grey (Gley1 7/1) color. 

Moderately structured large peds of 20-50mm size and of angular 

blocky shape breaking down to small peds of weak structure, 10- 

20mm size and of angular blocky shape. Consistence was very 

firm and slightly sticky, soil water status was tepid. There were 

very few gravelly (20-60mm) unknown lithology coarse 

fragments of angular tabular shape. No roots present in this 

horizon. With gradual change to 

R 240-290 Brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) sandy clay loam with few medium 

sized distinct mottles of light greenish grey (Gley1 7/1) color. 

Weakly structured 50-100mm sized large peds of platy shape 

breaking down to weakly structured small peds of 2-5mm of 

polyhedral shape. Consistence was very strong and was slightly 

sticky, soil water status was dry. There were Very abundant 

(>90%) cobbly platy coarse fragments of sandstone lithology. 

There were no roots in this horizon. 

Soil pit 2 is representative of the majority of the block taking in tree plots 1, 3 & 4. It is located 

slightly higher in the landscape than soil pit 1 and has no pugging on the surface. 

106

Figure 2.11.11 Soil Pit 2 Wing 


Surface 



A22 26-45 Light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) sandy clay loam with common 

medium sized mottles of faint contrast and of brownish yellow 

(10YR 6/8) color. Massive structure 10-20mm sized of platy 

shape breaking down to granular small peds of


R 230-270 Greenish grey (Gley 1 6/1) sandy clay loams, with very few 

coarse mottles of distinct contrast of brownish yellow color 

(10YR 6/6). Weakly structured 20-50mm sized large peds angular 

blocky in shape breaking down to weakly structured 10-20mm 

sized small peds of angular blocky shape. Consistence was very 

strong and non-sticky, soil moisture status was tepid. With 

abundant coarse fragments cobbly in size of angular tabular shape 

and of quartz lithology, there were also

2.12 Meehan Species Trial 

Aim 















Trial type 


Location 

Katherine. 

Latitude: 

Longitude: 

Nearest town 

14'36.10 S 

132'29.30 E 

Tindal, NT. See Regional, district and property 

maps. 


Elevation 

168 m 

Landform 

Undulating plain 


Bloodwood, box, stringy bark. 

Table 2.12.1 


Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Total Avg 


Mean monthly 






235.0 216.5 161.3 32.9 5.7 2.1 1.0 0.5 5.9 29.2 88.2 197.7 976.1 

101.4 74.5 23.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 25.3 80.9 620.6 

391.0 355.7 334.8 99.5 23.0 3.9 0.0 0.2 23.4 78.9 166.3 338.6 1315.0 

Mean daily max temp 35.0 34.3 34.5 34.0 32.1 30.0 30.1 32.5 35.4 37.7 38.0 36.5 34.2 

Mean daily min temp 24.0 23.7 22.9 20.4 17.1 14.1 13.2 15.5 19.6 23.6 24.7 24.4 20.2 




humidity (%) 


humidity (%) 

77 81 77 64 58 56 52 52 52 56 62 71 63 

54 57 51 37 34 31 27 25 25 28 35 45 37 



110

Soil 

Tippera 3d – well drained, calcareous, deep sandy loam 



The trial is laid out with rows 3 m apart and trees planted at 3 m spacings within rows. The site was a 

cleared paddock and was sprayed with glyphosate before planting. The rows were ripped along tree 

lines to a depth of approximately 0.5 m. The paddock where the trial is located is fenced. The 

plantation is surrounded by a 10 m wide fire break. 

Establishment 


March/April 2000. 

On the day of planting, planting commenced at 0700 and finished at 1430. A sunny day with some 

clouds. Wind after 1100 hours. 50g per tree of NPK. 

111



American Mahogany 

(Swietenia humilis) 


(Swietenia 

macrophylla) 

Red Mahogany 

(Eucalyptus pellita)/ 

West Indian Cedar 

(Cedrela odorata) 

African Mahogany 

(Khaya senegalensis) 

Teak (Tectona 

grandis) 

Indian Mahogany 

(Chukrasia tabularis) 

Demonstration 


Treatment 

number 

Seed/striplg 

source 

1 Choluteca, 99 

Honduras 

Nursery 

DPIF/GANT 

nursery, 

Berrimah 

2 Tela, Honduras DPIF/GANT 

nursery, 

Berrimah 

3 Cedrela - DPI 

Queensland 

SL 5525 

4 Striplings from 

Howard Springs 

5 Rio – Lindo 

Honduras 

6 Mixture of 

seedlot no. 

20100 & 20099 

(or 20032)?? 

DPIF/GANT 

nursery, 

Berrimah 

DPIF/GANT 

nursery, 

Berrimah 

DPIF/GANT 

nursery, 

Berrimah 

DPIF/GANT 

nursery, 

Berrimah 

Size at 


Health at 


~ 30cm Healthy 

~ 20cm Small, 

stressed 

Healthy 

Healthy 

Healthy 

Small, 

stressed 


Planted as 


Guanacaste 

(Enterolobium 

cyclocarpum) 

American 

Mahogany 

(Swietenia 

macrophylla) 



(row 

1,3,5,7,9) 

Honduras 

Neitzel nursery 

(row 4, 8) Tela, Honduras DPIF/GANT 

nursery, 

Berrimah 

(2, 6) DPI 

Queensland 

SL 5525 

DPIF/GANT 

nursery, 

Berrimah 

Small, 

stressed 










112

Trial Design 

N 

Strip of natural regeneration 

Demonstration 

row 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 

measuring direction 

5 1 3 5 6 4 1 2 I 

Enterance 

2 6 1 5 4 3 6* 2* II 

3 4 6 1 2 4 3 5 III 

Mixed Species 

Fence line 

IV 

*exchanged during planting 


X Stake 

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 

21 20 19 18 17 16 15 

28 27 26 25 24 23 22 

35 34 33 32 31 30 29 

42 41 40 39 38 37 36 

49 48 47 46 45 44 43 



Just after establishment some trees were suppressed by weeds but generally site in very good condition 

. The owner of the land has undertaken very good weed control from planting to date. Slashing in 

rows. 


Superphosphate was applied every 2-3 months @ 50-100 g/tree 

Irrigation 

Dripper system installed Mar/April 2000. 

Replacements 

A total of 109 seedlings were replaced in March and April 2000. These included 27 Cedrela odorata, 

29 Chukrasia tabularis, 7 Khaya senegalensis, 14 Swietenia humilis, 21 Swietenia macrophylla, 9 

Tectona grandis and 2 Eucalyptus pellita. 


The trees were form pruned during measuring on the 11th October 2000. 


No termite treatment. 

113

Pest control 

No pest control. 


The first monitoring took place in October 2000 by Kurt Neitzel and include the measurement of tree 

survival and height in metres. The following observations were also recorded: double leader, insect 

damage, multi-leaders, re-shooting, bushy, damaged, weak, missing and dead. 

The trees were again assessed in May 2001 by Kurt Neitzel who measured height, diameter and gave a 

score from 1-5 for crown, form, health, no. and cause. 

Kurt Neitzel measured the trees on the 13th June 2000 and measured height, survival and gave them a 

score scaled from 1 to 5 based on stem form and health. Trees that showed damage from insect 

activity, multi-branching, damaged tips, double leaders, erosion damage and signs of cutting or 

pruning were also recorded during this period. 

Kurt Neitzel & Mike Clark inspected the site in September 2001. Chukrasia tabularis performing well 

– one of the provenances from Kytell trial. Eucalyptus pellita not doing extremely well, may need to 

replace with another provenance. Kurt’s comments - No need for another dry season of irrigation as 

the trees have been through one wet season. Water is really not costing much. Could try turning off the 

irrigation in a sample area. 

Beau Robertson again measured the trial in July 2002 for height and diameter. He reported: 

Best species in this well looked after trial are: Tectona grandis (mean height 4.76 m & mean diameter 

4.88 cm), Khaya senegalensis (mean height 4.56 metres & mean diameter 6.55 cm) and Chukrasia 

tabularis (mean height 4.07 m & mean diameter 6.33 cm). Swietenia sp. also shows promise. 

Maintenance on this trial has been first class and is the best-pruned trial we measured. Very pleasing 

to see someone is keen to put in this extra work so as to grow these species to their full potential. 

The trials were measured again in May 2004 for height, diameter, bowl length, forking and scored for 

health. 




Results 

Despite having the lowest height at 6 months, Khaya senegalensis was the tallest species after 50 

months at 8.36m, although it was not significantly different form other species. Chukrasia tabularis 

had the second tallest mean height after 50 months at 8.17m. All species showed excellent survival 

throughout the trial, with Tectona grandis having the best survival after 27 months of 92%. This was 

most likely the result of the excellent maintenance received at this site. 

As well as height, Khaya senegalensis and Chukrasia tabularis also had the largest DBH means 

throughout the trial, showing at 50 months 11.11cm and 11.58 cm respectively. These were 

significantly different from other species in the trial (p

Table 2.12.2 

Estimated mean height and survival for the Meehan species trial 

Treat 

ment 


Height 6 

months 

Survival 

6 months 

Height 

13 

months 

Survival 

13 

months 

Height 

27 

months 

Survival 

27 

months 

Height 

50 

months 

4 

6 

Khaya 

senegalensis 0.33 94.9 1.65 90.3 4.52 90.4 8.36 

Chukrasia 

tabularis 0.37 80.6 1.98 80.1 4.07 80.1 8.17 

5 Tectona grandis 0.36 92.3 2.45 92.4 4.72 92 7.79 

1 

2 

Swietenia 

humilis 0.41 89.3 1.64 81.1 4.22 82.1 7.17 

Swietenia 

macrophylla 0.54 87.8 1.6 80.6 4.04 84.7 6.57 

Var ratio 1.58 1.25 0.84 0.8 1.53 1.49 2.14 

d.f. 3,5 3,5 3,5 3,5 3,5 3,5 3,5 

f prob 0.01 0.54 0.011 0.196 0.044 0.168

9 

8 

7 

6 

height (m) 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

Khaya 

senegalensis 

Chukrasia 

tabularis 

Tectona 

grandis 

Swietenia 

humilis 

Swietenia 

macrophylla 

0 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 

Age (months) since planting 

Figure 2.12.1 

Mean height (m) from 6 to 50 months after planting 

116

14 

12 

10 

DBH (cm) 

8 

6 


Chukrasia tabularis 


4 


2 

Swietenia 

macrophylla 

0 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 

Age (months) since planting 

Figure 2.12.2 

Mean survival (%) from 13 to 50 months after planting 

Figure 2.12.3 Meehan Trial with E. pellita in foreground (17 Oct 2008) 

117


Meehan soil pit 1. was representative of the whole trial site with no variation in topography across the 

1ha site. Trees growing on the plot had had very good management over the years including a recent 

thinning. (Owner sounded proud of his trees giving applications of fertilisers at the same time as he’s 

mangoes). 

Figure 2.12.4 

Soil Pit 1 Meehan 

118


Surface 

Hard setting & dry 

A1 0-13 Dark Reddish brown (5YR 3/4) sands; massive structured 10- 

20mm sized large peds of platy structure breaking down to 

granular peds of 200) fine roots 

(1-2mm). With a clear change to 

A2 13-27 Dark reddish brown (2.5YR 2.5/4) Clayey sands; massive 

structured 10-20mm sized large peds of platy shape breaking 

down to granular structured peds

2.13 Parker (now Harvey) 

Species Trial 

Aim 















Trial type 


Location 

Latitude: 

Longitude: 

Nearest town 



Elevation 

168m 

Landform 


14'35.00 S 

132'39.55 E 


Bloodwood, stringy bark. 

Table 2.13.1 




Mean monthly rainfall 235.0 216.5 161.3 32.9 5.7 2.1 1.0 0.5 5.9 29.2 88.2 197.7 976.1 

10th percentile rainfall 101.4 74.5 23.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 25.3 80.9 620.6 






Mean 9am relative 77 81 77 64 58 56 52 52 52 56 62 71 63 

humidity (%) 


humidity (%) 

54 57 51 37 34 31 27 25 25 28 35 45 37 



Soil 

Tippera- Massive red earths with a porous profile and are well drained. Typically, dark reddish 

brown or dusky red fine sandy clay loam or clay loam, very hard, limestone derived. Gn2. 11* Soil 

ph `6.8 (6-7) 

(*) Northcote key soil profile descriptions 

120



The site was cleared in 1994 and was too stony and therefore never used before tree planting. The 

site was ploughed using 15 cm tynes before planting and a 10 m wide fire break was established 

around the plantation. The trial site is fenced. Fertiliser of NPKS 0:10:22:6 potash triple super was 

applied at 150 kg/ha and a mixed cover crop of Verano Stylo, Seca and Glen vetch planted. No 

herbicide was required. 

The trial is laid out with rows 3 m apart and trees planted at 3 m spacings within rows. The rows 

were ripped to a depth of approximately 500 mm. 

Establishment 


January 1999. 

50 g/tree of triple super and sulphate of ammonia, NPKS: 19:13:0:9, placed in the ground at 

planting beside the tree. Trees were mulched with hay at the time of planting. 

121



African Mahogany 

(Khaya senegalensis) 

Treatment 

number 

Seed/striplg 

source 

1 HS striplings, 

D417 Senegal 

** 

Nursery 

Size at 


Health at 



30 cm Healthy Planted as 



(Swietenia humilis) 


(Swietenia 

macrophylla) 



2 Honduras Neitzel 

nursery 

3 ATSC *** DPIF/GAN 

T nursery, 

Berrimah 

4 DPI Qld 

SL No 5525 

DPIF/GAN 

T nursery, 

Berrimah 

30 cm Healthy Plantek 35 Side 

Slot Trays 


Slot Trays 

Healthy 

Plantek 35 Side 

Slot Trays 

Terminalia belerica 

Teak (Tectona 

grandis ) * 

5 Seed from 

Howard 

Springs FR 

6 Saragoza El 

Salvador 

DPIF/GAN 

T nursery, 

Berrimah 

DPIF/GAN 

T nursery, 

Berrimah 

Healthy 

Healthy 


Slot Trays 


Slot Trays 

Demonstration 


Padauk (Pterocarpus 

indicus) 

Indian Mahogany 

(Chukrasia velutina) 

Red Cedar 

(Toona ciliata)) 

Red Mahogany 

(Eucalyptus pellita) 

Red River Gum 

(Eucalyptus 

camaldulensis) 

Rosewood 

(Pterocarpus 

macrocarpus) 

Bush apple 

(Syzygium forte) 

a 

b 

c 

d 

e 

f 

g 

Howard 

Springs 


Reserve 

Howard 

Springs 


Reserve 

Unclear as to 

source 

ATSC 19718 

Unclear as to 

source 

Unclear as to 

source 

Katherine 

River 

DPIF/GAN 

T nursery, 

Berrimah 

DPIF/GAN 

T nursery, 

Berrimah 

DPIF/GAN 

T nursery, 

Berrimah 

DPIF/GAN 

T nursery, 

Berrimah 

DPIF/GAN 

T nursery 

20-40 cm Healthy 

Root 

collar – 

1cm 

20-40 cm Healthy 

Root 

collar – 1 

cm 

Planted as 


Planted as 



Slot Trays 


Slot Trays 


Slot Trays 


Slot Trays 


Slot Trays 

* Planted 10 months later 

** Striplings collected from EP 370 Howard Springs (D417 Senegal) 

*** Unclear which seed source was used (either seed lot 20097, 19861 or 19918 from ATSC). 

122

Labelling 









Trial Design 

Complete Block Design 

Demo 

rep I 1 3 5 6 2 4 a e 

rep II 3 1 5 4 6 2 b f 

rep III 1 5 

Khaya 

nyasica 

4 2 3 c g 

rep IV 6 2 5 3 4 1 d h 



OK 

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 

21 20 19 18 17 16 15 

28 27 26 25 24 23 22 

35 34 33 32 31 30 29 

42 41 40 39 38 37 36 

49 48 47 46 45 44 43 

Trees are numbered on the Meehan Completed Data sheet from the top right hand corner (NW Cnr) 

of each plot, to the left, then from the RH side back again, as indicated. The May 05 measuring 

measured the internal 5x5 rows, commencing at tree no 41, and counting up, then down rows in 

sequence. This has been corrected on the Evaluation sheet to match actual tree numbers. 



Pennisetum a problem in the first year. 

1998/99 – slashed regularly and spraying with glyphosate; 

1999/2000 - Verdict 520 (100 mL/ha) via boom spray on quad bike; 

2000/2001 – slashing only. 

123


1999/2000 – 100 g/tree of triple super and sulphate of ammonia 

Replacements 

Seedlings were replanted in March 1999 and again in the 1999/2000 wet season. 

Teaks planted in 11/99. 

Khaya nyasica planted in late 2000. 

Irrigation 

In May 1999, 16 mm T-Tape was installed with perforations every 30 cm. In Reps 1 & 2 this did 

not happen until later after Reps 3 & 4. 

Initially on 5 days per fortnight for 3 hours at 100 litres per tree, efficiency assumed of 20-30% 

according to size of trees, reduced to 80 L/week. 

For each rep: 3 hours 3 times a week @ 1.5 L/sec. 

2001: 3 hours twice a week (@ 1.5 L/s); 2002: 4 hours once a week. Costs estimated at $300 per 

dry season. 


September/October 2001 double and multi leader stems pruned. The first year lift pruning too much 

of the foliage was taken off. 


Some termites were found in Tectona grandis on the Tippera soil in 2001. October/November 2001 

and 2001/02 wet season : Aggregation base drums with Mirant were used for termite control. 


The first monitoring took place in July 1999 by Kurt Neitzel and included the measurement of tree 

survival and height in metres. The following observations were also recorded: double leader, insect 

damage, multi-leaders, re-shooting, bushy, damaged, weak, missing and dead. 

Kurt Neitzel measured the trees again in August 2000 and measured height and survivorship. Trees 

that showed damage from insect activity, multi-branching, damaged tips, double leaders, erosion 

damage and signs of cutting or pruning were also recorded during this period. 

The trees were again measured by Kurt in May 2001 for height, diameter and crown, form and 

health were also given a score. 

Kurt Neitzel & Mike Clark inspected the site in September 2001: 

• It was noted that form pruning was left too late – now requires more effort, more expense. 

• Some termite damage was observed in Swietenia macrophylla. 

• Acacia mangium prefers acid soils and is not performing so well. 

• Toona ciliata doing well – painted trunks (as with Cedrela). 

• Chukrasia velutina doing well. 

124

• Pterocarpus macrocarpus has a larger girth than P. indicus. The pruning here has been a 

little overdone. 

Beau Robertson again measured the trial in July 2002 for height and diameter. He reported that the 

best species were Khaya senegalensis with a mean height of 7.0 m and diameter of 10.15 cm, 

Terminalia belerica with a mean height of 7.31 m and diameter of 9.41 cm and Swietenia humilis 

with a mean height of 6.88 m and diameter of 7.86 cm. Attempts to prune the Khaya had been left 

too late. This has damaged the form of some trees. Eucalyptus camaldulensis was going well in the 

demonstration plot. Maintenance by the landowner on this trial has been good. 

The trials were measured again in May 2004 for height, diameter, bowl length, forking and scored 

for health. 


in metres and centimetres respectively. The trial data was checked for uneven variance and outliers 

using Data Plus software and then analysed using Genstat software. REML analysis was used as 

one plot had to be eliminated, thus preventing simple ANOVA analysis from being used. 

Other Observations 

The landholder has commented that if he was to install the irrigation again he would do so before 

planting and would make sure the irrigation lines were buried. 

Results 

In comparison to other sites in this trial, all species at this site performed extremely well, with all 

species above 5.3 m in height after only 42 months. Terminalia belerica proved the tallest species 

after 42 months at 7.41 m, despite slower growth than Khaya senegalensis and Swietenia humilis in 

the middle of the trial. 

At 54 months Khaya senegalensis performed extremely well on this site with 100% survival, an 

average height of 9.1 m, a mean annual increment (MAI) of 1.6 m and a DBH of 11.9 cm. 

Terminalia belerica performed nearly as well as Khaya senegalensis followed closely by Tectona 

grandis which had a slightly lower survival (89%), an average height of 7.7 m, MAI of 1.7 m and 

DBH of 9.6 cm. Swietenia humilis was the better performer of the central American Mahoganies 

with a survival of 89%, an average height of 8.5 m, MAI of 1.5 m and DBH of 10.5 cm. 

125

Table 2.13.2 

Estimated mean height and survival for the Parker species trial 

Treat 

ment 


Height 6 

months 

s.e. 

Height 

19 

months 

s.e. 

Height 

28 

months 

s.e. 

Height 

42 

months 

s.e. 

Height 

54 

months 

s.e. 

Height 

(MAI) 

s.e. 

Survival 

54 

months 

s.e. 

5 Terminalia belerica 0.39 0.022 2.48 0.17 5.05 0.22 7.41 0.26 9.1 0.14 1.7 0.03 96 

1 Khaya senegalensis 0.31 0.022 3.11 0.17 5.34 0.22 6.89 0.26 9.1 0.12 1.6 0.02 100 

2 Swietenia humilis 0.32 0.022 3.16 0.17 5.19 0.22 6.82 0.26 8.5 0.14 1.5 0.03 78 7 


3 Swietenia macrophylla 0.32 0.022 2.4 0.17 4.4 0.22 6.28 0.26 7.6 0.25 1.4 0.05 56 12 

4 Cedrela odorata 0.31 0.022 2.38 0.17 3.68 0.22 5.31 0.26 6.7 0.2 1.2 0.04 59 17.1 

126 

Wald statistic 8.77 110.76 70.31 46.52 

d.f 4 5 5 5 

Chi-sq prob 0.07

10 

9 

8 

7 

Height (m) 

6 

5 

4 






3 

2 

1 

0 

Terminalia belerica Khaya senegalensis Swietenia humilis Tectona grandis Swietenia 

macrophylla 


Figure 2.13.1 


10 

9 

8 

7 

Height (m) 

6 

5 

4 







3 

2 

1 

0 

10 20 30 40 50 

Time since planting (months) 

Figure 2.13.2 

Mean height over time from 6 to 54 months after planting 

127


100 

80 


60 

40 


20 

0 





Figure 2.13.3 


14 

12 

10 

DBH (cm) 

8 

6 

4 

2 

0 

Terminalia belerica Khaya senegalensis Swietenia humilis Tectona grandis Swietenia macrophylla Cedrela odorata 

Figure 2.13.4 

Mean DBH and bole height at 54 months after planting 

128

8 

7 

6 

5 

Bole height (m) 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

Terminalia belerica Khaya senegalensis Swietenia humilis Tectona grandis Swietenia macrophylla Cedrela odorata 

Figure 2.13.5 


Figure 2.13.6 

Khaya senegalensis (l) and Swietenia humilis 

129

Figure 2.13.7 

Khaya senegalensis (with Kurt Neitzel) 

Figure 2.13.8 


130


Harvey soil pit 1 was representative of tree plots 1, 2 & 3. The pit was located on flat to very slight rise 

landscape. Trees looked healthy. 

Figure 2.13.9 

Soil Pit 1 Harvey 

131


Surface 

Hard setting & dry 

A1 0-13 Very dark greyish brown (10YR 3/2) loamy sand; massive 

structured of 5-10mm large ped size of angular blocky shape 

breaking down to granular small peds of

Figure 2.13.10 Soil Pit 2 Harvey 


Surface 

Hard setting with many (20-50%) coarse gravelly (20-60mm) 

angular tabular shaped ironstone coarse fragments. Expected to 

have poor vertical drainage 

A1 0-08 Very dark greyish brown (10YR 3/2) clay loam. Moderately 

structured 5-10mm sized large peds of angular blocky shape 

breaking down to weakly structured 2-5mm angular block shaped 

small peds. Consistence was weak and moderately sticky, soil 

moisture status was dry. There were many (20-50%) coarse 

gravelly (20-60mm) angular tabular shaped ironstone coarse 

fragments. Roots were many (25-200) of fine diameters (1-2mm). 

With a gradual change to 

133


A2 08-22 Yellowish red (5YR 4/6) light clays, with very few (

2.14 Pleitner Species Trial 

Aim 







Trial type 


Location 

Latitude: 

Longitude: 

Nearest town 

Dundee, NT. 

12'48.20 S 

130'24.10 E 









Table 2.14.1 


Month 












humidity (%) 


humidity (%) 

81 83 83 75 66 62 62 67 70 70 73 77 

70 72 67 53 43 38 38 41 48 53 59 65 



135



This trial has alternating rows of species, Khaya senegalensis as the main species, and Cedrela 

odorata, Swietenia humilis and Tectona grandis as the alternating species. 

Establishment 


26 December 2000. 



Treatment 

number 

Seed source 

Khaya senegalensis M Howard Springs 

Cedrela odorata 1 DPI Qld 5525 



Saragonza 










136

Trial design 

Dundee Beach 


Homestead 

2 

3 

1 

1 

3 

4 rows 

2 

2 

Terminalia microcarpus 

3 

Teak 

86 

1 

2 

1 

3 

46 46 


X Stake 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 

61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 

71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 

81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 

91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 

137


Mike Clark and Kurt Neitzel inspected the site in September 2001. Irrigation – 4-5 L/wk/tree 

(hand watered). 

Maintenance good – some mission grass, they spray as soon as it emerges, spear grass is slashed. 

Mainly a low perennial grass cover between the rows, some Wyncassia coming up. 

Beau Robertson inspected this site in 2002. He reported it as a poor site, that was not irrigated 

with the trees hand-watered sometimes. Khaya senegalensis (mean height 0.90 metres) and 

Tectona grandis (mean height 0.79 m) were reported as being the only species showing promise. 

Very slow and poor growth was reported for all other species. 




Results 

Survival for all species at this site has been comparable to most other sites in this trial, with all 

species showing survival over 50% after 52 months. Although not significantly different, the main 

species Khaya senegalensis showed the best survival at 85.71%. Khaya senegalensis also showed 

consistently the greatest height for the site throughout the trial, with an estimated mean height 

after 52 months of 3.25 m. 

Khaya senegalensis and Cedrela odorata had the greatest DBH means at 52 months (3.31 cm and 

3.27 cm respectively), and were significantly different from the other species (p=0.03). Khaya 

senegalensis and Cedrela odorata also had the greatest bole heights (2.98 m and 2.56 m 

respectively), although these were not significantly different from the other species. Cedrela 

odorata (3.46) and Swietenia humilis (3.38) had the best bole scores after 52 months. 

138

Table 2.14.2 

Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and bole score for the Pleitner species trial 

Treatment 


Height 

18 

months 

Survival 

18 

months 

Height 

52 

months 

Survival 

52 

months 

Bole 52 

months 

DBH 52 

months 

Bole 

Score 52 

months 

1 Cedrela odorata 0.743 73.5 2.79 55 2.56 3.27 3.46 

2 Swietenia humilis 0.705 91 1.72 62 1.96 1.85 3.38 

3 Tectona grandis 0.773 77 1.6 50 1.85 1.66 2.6 

Var ratio 0.12 0.81 3.84 0.12 4.15 7.67 6.67 

d.f 2,11 2,11 2,10 2,11 2,10 2,10 2,10 

f prob 0.888 0.488 0.097 0.893 0.087 0.03 0.039 

lsd 0.3364 35.6 1.213 61.3 0.689 1.151 0.672 

139 

Table 2.14.3 

Estimated mean height, survival, bole, diameter and bole score for the main species at the Pleitner species trial 

Treatm 

ent 


Height 

18 

months 

s.e. 

Survival 

18 months 

Height 

52 

months 

s.e. 

Survival 

52 months 

Bole 52 

months 

s.e. 

DBH 52 

months 

s.e. 

Bole 

Score 52 

months 

s.e. 

4 

(main) Khaya senegalensis 1.02 0.02 92.00 3.25 0.09 85.71 2.98 0.07 3.31 0.10 3.07 0.05

5.00 

4.50 

4.00 

3.50 

3.00 

(m) 

2.50 



2.00 

1.50 

1.00 

0.50 

0.00 

Khaya senegalensis Cedrela odorata Swietenia humilis Tectona grandis 

Figure 2.14.1 



100 

80 

60 

40 

20 


0 





Figure 2.14.2 


140

120 

100 

80 

(%) 

60 





40 

20 

0 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 

months 

Figure 2.14.3 

Mean survival curve (%) from planting to 52 months 

4.00 

F=4.15; df=2,10; p=0.087 


3.50 

3.00 

2.50 

(m) 

2.00 

1.50 

1.00 

0.50 

0.00 


Figure 2.14.4 


141

5.00 

4.50 

F=7.67; df=2,10; p=0.03 


4.00 

3.50 

3.00 

(cm) 

2.50 

2.00 

1.50 

1.00 

0.50 

0.00 


Figure 2.14.5 


4.50 

F=6.67; df=2,10; p=0.039 


4.00 

3.50 

3.00 

Score 1-5 

2.50 

2.00 

1.50 

1.00 

0.50 

0.00 


Figure 2.14.6 

Mean bole score at 52 months after planting. 

142

2.15 Salzgeber Species Trial 

Aim 















Trial type 


Location 

Woolianna Road Farm Forestry Plantation 

Latitude: 

Longitude: 

Nearest town 

Daly River, NT. 


Landform 


13'41.00 S 

130'37.20 E 


E. papuana, black acacia, Terminalia sp., 

Nuor, Melaleuca spp., 

Table 2.15.1 

Climate (based on Wooliana) 

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Annual 


Mean monthly rainfall 315.9 383.0 267.9 26.0 17.9 2.7 3.8 0.0 11.5 57.4 101.5 198.4 1386.0 





Highest max temp 38.8 38.4 37.5 37.0 36.6 36.7 35.5 37.8 39.4 40.9 41.1 39.6 41.1 

Lowest min temp 17.5 19.3 12.6 10.0 5.7 4.1 4.5 5.5 7.8 8.7 16.7 14.7 4. 

1 

Mean daily evaporation 5.2 4.9 4.8 5.6 5.5 5.8 6.6 7.6 8.3 8.1 7.6 6.2 6.3 


humidity (%) 


humidity (%) 

89 91 90 77 66 63 65 67 70 75 75 82 76 

69 74 68 45 43 37 36 32 34 42 45 59 48 

014908 WOOLIANA Commenced: 1965 Last record: 1980 


143

Soil 

Alluvial soil, clay loam – sandy loam. 



The site had been a cleared paddock for over 50 years, and only slashing took place before planting. 

No ripping was carried out. The site is not fenced. 

Establishment 


11-13 February 1999. 

The trial is laid out with rows 3m apart and trees planted at 3m spacings within rows. The seedlings 

were planted into the weed-free, bare soil. At planting 50g of Super was buried close to each seedling. 

There is no irrigation at this site. 



Treatment 

number 



Chukrasia velutina 1 GA/DPIF Nursery Good 

Terminalia belerica 2 Howard Springs Good 

Khaya senegalensis 3 HS Howard Springs Good 

Swietenia humilis 4 Honduras Good 

Pterocarpus indicus 5 HS Howard Springs Good 

Pterocarpus macropus 6 SLN 19852/19853 Good 










144

Trial design 

I 1 3 5 6 2 4 

N 

II 3 1 5 4 6 2 

III 1 5 6 4 2 3 Old house 

IV 6 2 5 3 4 1 

Woolliana Road 

Grid 

old boats 


X Stake 

1 8 15 22 29 36 43 

2 9 16 23 30 37 44 

3 10 17 24 31 38 45 

4 11 18 25 32 39 46 

5 12 19 26 33 40 47 

6 13 20 27 34 41 48 

7 14 21 28 35 42 49 



Weed control at this site was sporadic and not intensive. 


Super was used for follow-up fertilising. 

Replacements 

Replanting occurred in February of 1999, about 500 plants of mixed native and exotic origin. 

Pest control 

No pest control occurred at this site. 


The site was reported to have been heavily damaged by feral pig invasion. Only Pterocarpus indicus 

and Pterocarpus macrocarpus remained for data collection. 

A major flood in 2000 caused many losses with the trees being underwater for 2 months. Only 

Pterocarpus indicus and Pterocarpus macrocarpus remained for measuring. 

The trial was not measured in 2002. Trial growth was reported as poor by the landowner. 

Pterocarpus macrocarpus planted on the other side of road near the river bank was reported as very 

good. 


measured in metres and centimetres respectively. The trial data was checked for uneven variance and 


145

Weed status 

Weeds were a major problem at this site. Nagoora burr, Sida, Calopo, nutgrass, wallaby grass, blanketweed. 

Insect and pest activity 

Feral pigs were a major problem at this site. Heavy damage reported. 

Results 

Survival for all species apart from Pterocarpus indicus and Pterocarpus macrocarpus was below 30% 

after 75 months and thus poor compared to other sites in this trial. This was most likely due to the feral 

pig damage and the major flooding that occurred in 2000. Despite the poor survivorship, Terminalia 

bellirica showed the greatest mean bole height at 5.35 m, significantly different to other species 

(p=0.028). 

Although not statistically significant, Pterocarpus indicus was the tallest species at this site after 75 

months, at 10.14 m, and also had the greatest stem form score of 4.109. Pterocarpus macrocarpus was 

the next tallest at 8.67 m. These two species also showed the greatest dbh, at 12.27 cm for Pterocarpus 

indicus, and Pterocarpus macrocarpus at 12.67 cm. 

Table 2.15.2 Estimated height, survival, bole, diameter and stem form for the Salzgeber 

species trial 

Treatment 


Height 

75 

months 

Survival 

75 

months 

Bole 75 

months 

DBH 75 

months 

Stem 

Form 75 

months 

5 Pterocarpus indicus 10.14 58.5 2.75 12.27 4.109 

6 Pterocarpus macrocarpus 8.67 44.2 2.04 12.67 3.643 

1 Chukrasia velutina * 0 * * * 

3 Khaya senegalensis * 0 * * * 


2 Terminalia bellirica 7.15 26.5 5.35 7.33 2.689 

Var ratio 4.03 3.72 14.17 3.74 6.82 

d.f 3,8 5,17 3,8 3,8 3,8 

F prob 0.141 0.037 0.028 0.154 0.075 

lsd 2.95 38.39 1.706 5.705 1.0728 

146

14 

F=4.03; df=3,8; p=0.141 


12 

10 

8 

(m) 

6 

4 

2 

0 

Pterocarpus indicus Pterocarpus macrocarpus Swietenia humilis Terminalia bellirica 

Figure 2.15.1 



60 

50 


40 

30 


20 

10 

0 




Figure 2.15.2 


147

8 

7 

F=14.17; df=3,8; p=0.028 


6 

5 

(m) 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 


Figure 2.15.3 


20 

18 

F=3.74; df=3,8; p=0.154 


16 

14 

12 

(cm) 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 

0 


Figure 2.15.4 


148

6 

F=6.82; df=3,8; p=0.075 


5 

4 

Score 1-5 

3 

` 

2 

1 

0 


Figure 2.15.5 


149

2.16 Scattini Species Trial 

Aim 















Trial type 


Location 

Latitude: 

Longitude: 

Nearest town 


14'28.00 S 

132'16.00 E 

Table 2.16.1 



Number of 

raindays 

14.7 13.6 10.2 2.4 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.7 3.0 7.4 12.1 65.3 

Mean 

monthly 


10th 

percentile 


90th 

percentile 


Mean daily 

max temp 

Mean daily 

min temp 

Highest max 

temp 

Lowest min 

temp 

Mean 9am 

relative 

humidity 

(%) 

Mean 3pm 

relative 

humidity 

(%) 

235.0 216.5 161.3 32.9 5.7 2.1 1.0 0.5 5.9 29.2 88.2 197.7 976.1 

101.4 74.5 23.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 25.3 80.9 620.6 

391.0 355.7 334.8 99.5 23.0 3.9 0.0 0.2 23.4 78.9 166.3 338.6 1315.0 

35.0 34.3 34.5 34.0 32.1 30.0 30.1 32.5 35.4 37.7 38.0 36.5 34.2 

24.0 23.7 22.9 20.4 17.1 14.1 13.2 15.5 19.6 23.6 24.7 24.4 20.2 

41.1 40.5 39.2 38.3 36.0 36.1 35.2 37.3 39.4 41.7 45.6 43.3 

17.2 16.7 13.8 10.7 7.2 3.4 2.8 5.3 9.8 11.0 17.4 17.3 

77 81 77 64 58 56 52 52 52 56 62 71 63 

54 57 51 37 34 31 27 25 25 28 35 45 37 



150

Establishment 


10 February 2001. 


Species used Treatment number Seed source 

Eucalyptus pellita 1 SLN 19719, 18602, 19672, 

19128, 19718 

Blepharocarya involucrigera 2 

Terminalia microcarpa 3 










Trial design 

Eastern Block 

Katherine River 

1 3 1 1 3 

2 3 2 3 2 

Terminalia 

microcarpus 

Allosyncarpia 

ternata 

Eucalyptus 

pellita 

2 1 

N 


X Stake 

1 10 11 20 21 

2 9 12 19 22 

3 8 13 18 23 

4 7 14 17 24 

5 6 15 16 25 

151


Mike Clark and Kurt Neitzel inspected the site in September 2001. They reported: 

• Watering once a week for 3 hours 

• Khaya nyasica striplings from Qld 

• Have had problems with wallabies. 

• Will need form pruning in a couple of months. 

Beau Robertson inspected the site in July 2002. He reported it as a good, well maintained trial. 

Eucalyptus pellita was reported as showing good growth (mean height 2.96 m) along with Terminalia 

microcarpa (mean height 1.96 m). The landowner was reported to be pumping effluent from the 

septic tank through his sprinkler system. Tectona grandis in the demonstration plot was reported to be 

growing well. 




Results 

Eucalyptus pellita and Terminalia microcarpa showed excellent survival after 52 months, both over 

90% at this site. 

Eucalyptus pellita was consistently the tallest species throughout the trial, significantly taller than 

other species at 2.831 m at 17 months (p

10 

9 

8 

7 

(m) 

6 

5 

4 



3 

2 

1 

0 



Blepharocarya 

involucrigera 

Figure 2.16.1 



100 

80 

60 

40 

20 



0 

Blepharocarya involucrigera 


Figure 2.16.2 


153

120 

100 

80 

(%) 

60 




40 

20 

0 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 

months 

Figure 2.16.3 

Mean survival curve (%) from planting to 52 months 

8 

7 

F=27.87; df=2,11; p

12 

F=3.9.03; df=2,11; p

2.17 Ter Laare Species Trial 

Aim 







Location 

AMG Reference: 

731700mE 

86061200mN 

Nearest town 

Humpty Doo 









Trial type 


Soil 

Grey brown loam, marginal pH and low in nutrients. 

Establishment 


January 2001 

Tree lines in this trial run south to north. 


156




Acacia mangium 2 

Acacia peregrina 3 

Blepharocarya involucrigera 4 

Santalum album 5 

Castanospermum australe 6 

Erythrophleum chlorostachys 7 

Flindersia australe 8 

Flindersia brayleana 9 

Eucalyptus camaldulensis 10 

Syzygium armstrongii 11 

Syzygium forte 12 

Syzygium nervosum 13 

Toona ciliata 14 

Eucalyptus pellita 15 










157

Trial design 

No 

Name Road 

Gate 

12 15 14 8 1 

REP 1 10 6 9 13 5 

4 7 2 11 3 

3 11 6 1 14 

REP2 12 9 4 7 5 

2 8 10 13 15 

N 

3 4 2 5 10 

REP3 15 9 6 12 7 

8 1 14 13 11 


X Stake 

1 7 13 19 25 31 

2 8 14 20 26 32 

3 9 15 21 27 33 

4 10 16 22 28 34 

5 11 17 23 29 35 

6 12 18 24 30 36 





158

Results 

Survival at this site was excellent for all species apart from Flindersia brayleana. Only 3 species 

were below 60% survival after 35 months, Flindersia brayleana, Flindersia australe, Syzygium 

nervosum. Santalum album (99.1%) showed the best survival after 35 months, although not 

significantly different from the other species. 

Acacia mangium was consistently the tallest species at this site throughout the trial, significantly 

taller at 1.61 m at 7 months (p

Table 2.17.1 

Estimated mean height, survival, bole, form score and diameter for the Ter Laare species trial 

160 

Treatment 


Height 7 

months 

Survival 

7 months 

Health 7 

months 

Height 

35 

months 

Survival 

35 

months 

Bole 35 

months 

Score 35 

months 

2 Acacia mangium 1.61 99.1 3.053 6.57 92.6 2.707 3.473 8.293 

1 Acacia auriculiformis 0.983 75 2.573 3.853 67.6 1.16 2.69 3.93 

4 Blepharocarya involucrigera 0.857 98.1 3.18 3.753 98.1 3.327 4.193 4.22 

3 Acacia peregrina 0.897 73.1 2.49 3.647 85.2 1.75 2.953 3.717 

10 Eucalyptus camaldulensis 0.827 99.1 2.78 3.613 95.4 2.347 2.967 2.583 

15 Eucalyptus pellita * 0 * 3.493 93.5 3.097 3.69 3.503 

14 Toona ciliata 0.497 90.7 2.8 3.403 82.4 2.97 3.03 3.557 

12 Syzygium forte 0.857 96.3 3.163 2.547 98.1 0.997 2.592 2.553 

11 Syzygium armstrongii 0.867 86.1 2.997 2.263 95.4 1.227 2.857 2.108 

8 Flindersia australe 0.683 61.1 2.607 2.157 52.8 2.063 4.183 2.197 

6 Castanospermum australe 0.683 99.1 3.167 2.077 73.1 1.9 3.19 2.263 

5 Santalum album 0.84 96.3 3.133 1.993 99.1 1.15 3.277 1.688 

9 Flindersia brayleana 0.393 63.9 3.04 1.697 13.9 1.725 3.742 1.478 

13 Syzygium nervosum 0.69 61.1 2.633 1.423 58.3 0.787 2.812 1.583 

7 Erythrophleum chlorostachys 0.203 85.2 3.043 0.977 68.5 1.845 2.722 2.138 

Var ratio 24.02 12.8 2.56 25.75 16.58 14.4 2.55 35.05 

d.f 13,41 14,44 13,41 14,44 14,44 14,41 14,38 14,38 

DBH 35 

months 

F prob

8 

7 

6 

5 

(m) 

4 



3 

2 

1 

0 




Acacia peregrina 

Eucalyptus camaldulensis 


Toona ciliata 



Flindersia australe 



Flindersia brayleana 

Syzygium nervosum 

Erythrophleum chlorostachys 

Figure 2.17.1 




100 


80 


60 



40 

20 



0 







Toona ciliata 



Figure 2.17.2 


161

4 

3.5 

F=25.75; df=13,41; p

6 

F=2.55; df=14,38; p=0.024 


5 

4 

Score 1-5 

3 

2 

1 

0 







Toona ciliata 









Figure 2.17.5 


10 

9 

F=35.05; df=14,38; p

Figure 2.17.7 Ter Laare Trial (17 Oct 2007) 

164

Figure 2.17.8a,b,c 

Ter Laare trial 

165

2.18 Tollner Species Trial 

Aim 















Trial type 


Location 

Produce Road, Darwin Rural area 

Latitude: 

Longitude: 

Nearest town 

Darwin, NT. 


Elevation 

35m 

Slope 

Slight 

Landform 

Edge of floodway 

12'33.20 S 

131'05.40 E 

Aspect 

Produce Road section has an easterly aspect. 


Grassland with scattered trees of E. polycarpa, 

Lophostemon lactifluus and patches of scrubby 

understorey including Pandanus spiralis, 

Banksia dentata. 

Erosion 

None observed on site 

Table 2.18.1 


Month 












humidity (%) 


humidity (%) 

81 83 83 75 66 62 62 67 70 70 73 77 

70 72 67 53 43 38 38 41 48 53 59 65 



166

Soil 

8a Land Unit. Moderately deep to deep siliceous sands and earthy sands with a uniform profile 

sand to sandy loam, moderately well drained. Site drainage very slow with some wet season 

inundation. 



This trial has alternating rows of species, Eucalyptus pellita as the main species, and Khaya 

senegalensis, Acacia auriculiformis and Pterocarpus macrocarpus as the alternating species. 

Establishment 


6 January 2001. 





M 

Khaya senegalensis 1 


Pterocarpus macrocarpus 3 










167

Trial design 

6 2 

5 3 

4 1 Trial area 

3 3 

2 2 

Andrews Rd. 

1 1 

7 8 9 

Teak 3 1 2 

Produce Rd. 


X Stake 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 

61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 

71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 

81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 

91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 

Maintenance & monitoring 

Mike Clark and Kurt Neitzel inspected the site in September 2001 and reported that a serious fire 

had gone through the main component of the trial. It was noted that weeds needed to be sprayed 

ASAP, mission grass was shooting already. It was recommended that the owners be contacted and 

asked if they could do a slash and spray ASAP and also ask them about fertilising. The site also 

required a very good firebreak, especially on the Produce Road site RHS. Khaya were showing 

yellowing of leaves, possibly a Magnesium deficiency. 

Beau Robertson inspected this site in July 2002 He reported that it was a very poor trial, with little 

or no maintenance and lots of weeds. He also reported having trouble finding some of the trees, 

which meant not enough trees were measured to get any reasonable information at this site. 

168




Weed status 

As mentioned in the monitoring section weeds, mainly the introduced perennial grass, 

Pennisetum polystachion or mission grass has been a major problem and has compounded 

the fire problem that arose. 


Fire as mentioned in the monitoring report. 

Results 

The main species at this site, Eucalyptus pellita, was the tallest species at 4.86m after 51 months, 

although it was not significantly different from the other species. Eucalyptus pellita also had the 

greatest bole height of 3.79 m, DBH of 5.66 cm, and bole score of 2.97, although none of these 

were statistically significant. 

All species showed particularly poor survivorship, all except Khaya senegalensis (37.3%) were 

below 25% after 51 months. This was most likely the result of the weed problems and the fire at 

the site in 2001. 

In summary this trial exemplifies the real problems faced by any forestry plantation development 

in the Top End of the NT in major weed and fire issues. They need to be continually managed if 

project is to be successful. 

169

Table 2.18.2 

Estimated height, survival, bole, diameter and bole score for the Tollner species trial 

Treatment 


Height 51 

months 

Survival 

51 

months 

Bole 51 

months 

DBH 51 

months 

Bole 

score 51 

months 

3 Pterocarpus macrocarpus 4.15 23.3 2.14 5.21 2.83 

1 Khaya senegalensis 3.72 37.3 2.79 4.75 3.17 

2 Acacia auriculiformis * 13.3 * * * 

170 

Var ratio 0.08 0.75 1.9 0.04 0.58 

d.f 2,6 2,8 2,6 2,6 2,6 

F prob. 0.926 0.529 0.345 0.963 0.632 

lsd 5.48 54.66 1.533 9.293 1.439 

Table 2.18.3 

Estimated height, survival, bole, diameter and bole score for the main species in the Tollner species trial 

Treatment 


Height 

18 

months 

s.e. 

Survival 

18 

months 

Height 

51 

months 

s.e. 

Survival 

51 

months 

Bole 51 

months 

s.e. 

DBH 51 

months 

s.e. 

Bole 

score 51 

months 

s.e. 

4 (main) Eucalyptus pellita 1.69 0.13 11.25 4.86 0.20 19.00 3.79 0.25 5.66 0.31 2.97 0.14

12.00 

F=0.08; df=2,6; p=0.926 


10.00 

8.00 

(m) 

6.00 

4.00 

2.00 

0.00 

Eucalyptus pellita Pterocarpus macrocarpus Khaya senegalensis 

Figure 2.18.1 



40 

30 

20 

10 


0 



Figure 2.18.2 


171

120 

100 

80 

(%) 

60 


40 

20 

0 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 

months 

Figure 2.18.3 

Mean survival % for Eucalyptus pellita from planting to 51 months 

6.00 

F=1.9; df=2,6; p=0.345 


5.00 

4.00 

(m) 

3.00 

2.00 

1.00 

0.00 


Figure 2.18.4 


172

16.00 

F=0.04; df=2,6; p=0.963 


14.00 

12.00 

10.00 

(cm) 

8.00 

6.00 

4.00 

2.00 

0.00 


Figure 2.18.5 


5.00 

4.50 

F=0.58; df=2,6; p=0.632 


4.00 

3.50 

3.00 

Score 1-5 

2.50 

2.00 

1.50 

1.00 

0.50 

0.00 


Figure 2.18.6 

Mean bole score at 51 months after planting 

173

2.19 Wills Species Trial 

Aim 















Trial type 


Location 

Latitude: 

Longitude: 

Nearest town 

Darwin, NT. 


Elevation 

28 metres 

Slope 

Less than 2 degrees 

Landform 


12'40.00 S 

131'06.50 E 

Aspect 

Light incline to the east 


E. miniata, E. tetradonta open woodland with 

Erythrophleum chlorostachys and Cycas, 

Livistona humilis, Grevillea spp.understorey. 

Erosion 

Nil observed on site 

Darwin Rural, Acacia Hills 

Table 2.19.1 


Month 











Mean 9am relative 81 83 83 75 66 62 62 67 70 70 73 77 

humidity (%) 

Mean 3pm relative 70 72 67 53 43 38 38 41 48 53 59 65 

humidity (%) 



174

Soil 

Shallow gravely massive earths that are moderately well drained. Site drainage is rapid. 



The site was a cleared paddock and was ripped before planting. glyphosate was applied to weeds 

at the time of site preparation. The site is fenced. A dripper system was installed. 

Establishment 


February 2000. 

The trial is laid out with rows 3m apart and trees planted at 3 m spacings within rows. At planting 

50g of Nitrophoska (NPK) blend was applied close to each seedling. Wynncassia was sown as an 

inter-row cover. 



Treatment 

number 

Nursery Seed source Size at 


Health at 


Swietenia macrophylla 1 DPIF Honduras Good 

Enterolobium 

2 DPIF Unsure of source Good 

cyclocarpum 

Chukrasia velutina 3 DPIF Unsure of source Very small Too small 

Eucalyptus pellita 4 DPIF CSIRO SLN 

19718 

Tectona grandis 5 DPIF Saragonza El 

Salvador 

Good 

Good 

Callitris intratropica 6 DPIF Unsure of source Good 










175

Trial design 

Road 

123 m 

Rep IV 1 3 5 6 2 4 Demo 

39 m 

Rep III 3 1 5 4 6 2 

Reserved for Horticulture 

Rep II 1 5 6 4 2 3 Demo 

Tree 

mix 

Rep I 6 2 5 3 4 1 


X Stake 

1 8 15 22 29 36 43 

2 9 16 23 30 37 44 

3 10 17 24 31 38 45 

4 11 18 25 32 39 46 

5 12 19 26 33 40 47 

6 13 20 27 34 41 48 

7 14 21 28 35 42 49 



Slashing between rows was used to control weeds. Weed control was sporadic and incomplete. 


No follow up fertilising took place at this site. 

Irrigation 

Irrigation was installed during establishment. 

Replacements 

Some replanting occurred in February and March of 2000. 


Some trees were form pruned. 

176


Kurt Neitzel reported: Termites and late application of fertiliser. Plants were noted as being 

suppressed due to lack of weeding especially Teak and Chukrasia sp. 

Mike Clark and Kurt Neitzel inspected the site in September 2001. They reported that the site was 

in a mango growing area with bitumen road passing, good for publicity. There had been some 

problems arising from fertilising not being done on time and weeds not being maintained as well 

as could be. It was evident that some support was required for weeding (Mike organised for a 

GANT employee to do a day’s slashing with a brush cutter during the 2001/02 wet season). In 

general, for fertilizing, an NPK mix is used, 50 g for small trees at planting, 100 g at 2-3 months 

and next season another 100 g. These trees now needed 150-200 g of fertiliser as they hadn’t 

received any to date. 

It was noted that E. pellita was flowering at age 18 months. It was also noted that a good firebreak 

needed to be installed and that trees needed pruning. 

Beau Robertson inspected the site in 2002, and noted that it was a site with potential, but through 

a lack of maintenance it was performing poorly. Eucalyptus pellita was reported as the best 

species with a mean height of 3.78 m and diameter of 5.06 cm. 




Weed status 

Plants were suppressed by the weeds. 


There was some termite damage in Swietenia macrophylla. 


Weed control was sporadic, and not sufficient around the trees. 

The plant stock was good apart from Chukrasia. 

Results 

Eucalyptus pellita has consistently been the tallest species throughout the trial, although only 

significantly different at 28 months (3.61 m, p

Table 2.19.2 

Estimated mean height, survival, diameter, bole and score for the Wills species trial 

Treatm 

ent 

Species Name 

Height 7 

months 

Survival 7 

months 

Height 

14 

months 

Survival 

14 months 

Height 

28 

months 

Survival 

28 

months 

DBH 

28 

month 

s 

Height 

69 

month 

s 

Survival 

69 

months 

Bole 69 

month 

s 

DBH 

69 

month 

s 

Score 

69 

month 

s 

178 

4 

6 

Eucalyptus 

pellita 0.987 80.6 1.905 54.6 3.61 79.6 4.605 6.51 51.5 4.75 7.25 3.2 

Callitris 

intratropica 0.572 94.4 1.521 69.4 2.895 93.9 3.253 5.67 92.9 4.79 7.68 3.55 


1 

2 

3 

Swietenia 

macrophylla 0.535 79.1 1.042 63.8 1.955 74.5 3.33 3.19 60.7 3.16 3.62 2.7 

Enterolobium 

cyclocarpum 0.927 80.6 1.898 55.1 2.015 65.8 * 2.52 42.9 * 3 1.3 

Chukrasia 

velutina 0.362 61.7 * 25.5 1.235 41.8 * 2.2 33.7 1.95 2.27 2.1 

Var ratio 26.7 2.05 6.21 3.39 21.72 4.19 7.46 17.08 6.91 10.07 21.67 8.66 

d.f 5,23 5,23 5,18 5,23 5,23 5,23 5,19 5,22 5,23 5,20 5,22 5,22 

F prob

9 

8 

7 

6 

(m) 

5 

4 





3 

2 

1 

0 

Eucalyptus pellita Callitris intratropica Tectona grandis Swietenia 

macrophylla 

Enterolobium 

cyclocarpum 


Figure 2.19.1 



100 

80 


60 

40 


20 

0 








Figure 2.19.2 


179

10 

9 

F=21.67; df=5,22; p

5 

4.5 

F=8.66; df=5,22; p

Figure 2.19.7 

Wills trial showing Callitris plot 

Figure 2.19.8 Wills Trial showing Callitris and E. pellita plots. (17 October 2007) 

182

Figure 2.19.9 Wills Trial showing E. pellita plot (17 Oct 2007) 

183

3. Species summaries 

Summary of Northern Territory species trials 

Khaya senegalensis and Eucalyptus pellita have had the best height growth and survival on the most 

sites and are the best general species from the trial program. On individual sites, with specific site 

characteristics, maintenance regimes or species mixes, other species have performed well. Growers 

should look to the sites that best match their location or site characteristics and consider using the 

species that have performed best there. The species summary graphs below use mean height at 

different ages across all the trials where that species was grown. Variation in the growth of species 

shown is therefore due to variation in site characteristics and maintenance regimes. They nevertheless 

show the range of heights that can be achieved in the Top End over time. Growers should aim to carry 

out the best maintenance and silviculture in order to achieve the higher end of this range of values. 

Best species from each trial (top 3) 

Trial site Best performing 1 Best performing 2 Best performing 3 

De Koning Tectona grandis Khaya senegalensis 

Duminksi 


Freds Pass Pterocarpus indicus Khaya senegalensis Swietenia humilis 

Hammett Enterolobium cyclocarpum Eucalyptus pellita Callitris intratropica 

Hayman 


Hickey Tectona grandis Eucalyptus pellita Swietenia humilis 

Howard Springs 

Humphris 

Kohler 




McGuffog Khaya senegalensis Eucalyptus pellita 

Meehan Khaya senegalensis Chukrasia velutina 

Parker Terminalia belerica Khaya senegalensis Swietenia humilis 

Pleitner Khaya senegalensis Cedrela odorata 

Salzgeber Pterocarpus indicus Pterocarpus 

macrocarpus 

Scattini 


Ter Laare Acacia mangium Blepharocarya 

involucrigera 

Tollner 


Wills Eucalyptus pellita Callitris intratropica 

NB. Acacia mangium only used in 2 trials, but did very well where it was used. 

184

Species summaries (height) 


4.5 

4 

3.5 

3 

2.5 

2 

1.5 

1 

0.5 

Heig ht 

Linear (Heig ht ) 

0 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 

Age (months) 


Callitris intratro p ica 

6 

5 

Height (m) 

4 

3 

2 

1 

Heig ht 

Linear (Height) 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 

Age (months) 


185


4 

3.5 

3 

Heig ht 

Expon. (Height) 

2.5 

2 

1.5 

1 

0.5 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

Age (months) 



6 

5 

Heig ht 

Linear (Heig ht) 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 

Age (months) 


186


6 

Height (m) 

5 

4 

3 

2 

Heig ht 

Expon. (Height) 

1 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

Age (months) 



7 

6 

5 

Heig ht 


Height (m) 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 

Age (months) 


187

Eucalyp tus p ellita 

9 

8 

7 

Heig ht 


6 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

Age (months) 


Khaya nyasica 

4.5 

4 

3.5 

3 

2.5 

2 

Heig ht 


1.5 

1 

0.5 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 

Age (months) 

Khaya nyasica 

188

Khaya seneg alensis 

7 

6 

5 

Heig ht 


4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

Age (months) 



2.5 

2 

Heig ht 


Height (m) 

1.5 

1 

0.5 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 

Age (months) 


189


12 

10 

Heig ht 


8 

Height (m) 

6 

4 

2 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 

Age (months) 



10 

9 

8 

7 

Heig ht 


6 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 

Age (months) 


190

S wietenia humilis 

9 

8 

7 

Heig ht 


6 

Height (m) 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

Age (months) 



6 

5 

Height (m) 

4 

3 

2 

1 

Heig ht 


0 

0 20 40 60 80 

Age (months) 


191


8 

7 

6 

Heig ht 


Height (m) 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 

Age (months) 


Terminalia b ellirica 

9 

8 

7 

6 

Height (m) 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

Heig ht 


0 20 40 60 80 100 

Age (months) 


192

4. Climate Change 

Climate change (and the emerging industry servicing amelioration of, and adaptation to, climate 

change) will have a profound effect on forestry development in NT. These effects will primarily fall 

into two areas – the distribution of suitable forest growing conditions in the top end; and the use of NT 

forests as carbon sinks. 

The predictions for NT given in http://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/futureclimate.php show a 

wide range of possible scenarios (Figure 4.1). Examples for the 10, 50 and 90 percentiles for evapotranspiration 

changes by 2050 all show increases ranging from slight to extreme based on increases in 

rainfall and temperature (medium emissions=status quo). This may have a positive effect on the 

growth of some species but needs to be evaluated as more growth results are obtained. 

Figure 4.1 Northern Territory Potential Evapotranspiration 2050 Summer 

193

Forest growing conditions 

One of the major current impacts on forestry is the prevalence of cyclonic winds in near coastal 

regions in the Top End. If higher rainfall occurred as a result of an increased number of cyclones 

further south and further away from the coast, more inland areas may support higher growth rates and 

become more suited to some of the faster growing species. Higher CO 2 levels, increased temperatures 

and great rainfall are all possible outcomes which warrant further attention as climate change 

predictions become more refined. 

Carbon sinks 

If changes to leasehold land restrictions allowed for increased forestry use, then NT could become a 

major supplier of carbon sequestration services to other industries. In particular the complementarity 

with a focus on longer rotation solid wood products would be of particular interest. Fire frequency 

and intensity would be a key negative factor in this area. 

194

5. Recommendations 

A range of outcomes and issues have emerged from the project, and from these we make some 

recommendations. They are summarise under the following headings – 

Biology 

Good survival of African Mahogany in the trials, and fair to excellent growth of, supports the selection 

of this species for further development and genetic improvement. The survival of trials on extremely 

harsh sites has been remarkable although some growth rates have been poor. 

Fair to good growth on a range of other species including some natives (Terminalia, Callitris, 

Blephocarya), and other high value exotic timber species (Teak, Rosewood, Cedar). Performance of 

these second tier species is more patchy with a mosaic of termite and other damage across different 

soil types and climates. There is good scope to carry out work with a wider range of seed sources of 

the native species to find more suitable provenances. Use of native species will have a more positive 

impact on biodiversity conservation efforts. 

More detailed analysis of soils has been carried out for some sites. This should be coupled with 

analysis of water requirements of the trees at different ages and planting configurations to assist in 

assessing productivity potential and to estimate impact on water resources in key areas. 

Social 

Land owners are seeking additional information and assistance with management regimes for the next 

phase of growth. The original network group remains, but there is little growth in new members due 

to lack of resources to provide continuous support 

There is a general willingness among growers to co-operate in the flow of information and experience 

both within and beyond the network. However, the on-again and off-again nature of formal support to 

the network from both GA and DPI has been noted by several participants. 

Labour and skills are generally in short supply placing some pressure on forest owners at key points of 

the management cycle. Access to technology (see below) will play some role in resolving this issue 

along with greater awareness of the role and practice of forestry. 

Access to infrastructure is generally good with growers benefiting from the irrigation and transport 

infrastructure development for agriculture. 

Environmental 

In most cases the trials have increased the focus of landowners on fire and weed management on their 

properties. The trials are also generating greater understanding of the potential of a range of native 

species (as well as exotics) which may add to their conservation value. 

The additional shade and shelter provided by the trees has been used by some land owners in their 

stock production operations 

195

Industry Development 

Three sawmilling enterprises were interviewed in line with respect to production of high value sawlogs 

as a primary product. All expressed interest in accessing a farm based resource and were interested to 

talk with growers about target logs and current market requirements. 

There is a small but robust industry (several hundred cubic metres per year) working with high value 

hardwood timber sourced from Darwin, primarily for NT end users (furniture, joinery). This industry 

could readily accept a relatively variable resource like farm grown logs although there should be 

dialogue between growers and processors around the target log and product mix. 

Research and development skills are scarce within GA, DPIFM and the commercial sector. This is 

understood by all organisations and they recognise the need to collaborate to increase efficiencies. 

There are opportunities to share resources from different groups to support positions if the number of 

available skilled staff is small. 

Access to technology to date has been driven by the Farm Forestry network based around the trials. 

Different species and environments in the Top End mean that there is limited scope to build on the 

experience from other parts of Australia. The GA federation has been important in transferring 

generic information about tree planting but NT work targeting specific issues (e.g. silviculture, pest 

and diseases) is also required. 

Market development is fundamental to longer term successful farm forestry and important connections 

have been made with processors represented in the farm forestry network. Some analysis of the 

interactions between larger commercial growers and smaller farm growers with respect to market 

access is needed. 

Economic analysis initiated by the program has been updated and refined in the African Mahogany 

Strategy produced by DPIFM and should be revised and expanded to cover additional species. 

Policy 

Current pastoral lease conditions are under review. 

There is much interest in the availability and access rights to water in the Top End as the demand for 

general water supplies across Australia increases. There is a need to understand the water use of 

various species and planting configurations so that the role of forestry (at different scales) in water 

management can be accurately assessed. 

Taxation rules affect larger players’ ability to raise project funds. While this has a lesser impact on 

smaller growers, it is still important in assessing the costs and returns from farm forestry. 

196

6. References 

Bygrave, F. & Bygrave, P. (2004) Growing Australian Red Cedar and other Meliaceae species in 

plantation Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, No 04/135, Kingston. 

Cacho, O.(2001) An analysis of externalities in agroforestry systems in the presence of land 

degradation. Ecological Economics, 2001, Vol.39, No.1, pp.131-143 

CAB International (2000) Forestry compendium global module. CAB International., Wallingford, UK 

Eldridge, K., Davidson, J., Harwood, C., & van Wyk, G. (1993) Eucalypt domestication and breeding 

Oxford Science Publications, Oxford and New York 

Floyd, R., Griffiths, M.W., & Wylie, F.R. (2005) Patterns of host use by the shoot-borer Hypsipyla 

robusta (Pyralidae: Lepidoptera) comparing five Meliaceae tree species in Asia and 

Australia. Forest Ecology and Management, 205, 351-357. 

Hyder Consulting, (2007) Assessment of the Direct and Indirect Risks from Human Induced Climate 

Change to Key Ecosystems in Northern Australia. Synopsis. A synopsis of a report prepared 

by Hyder Consulting for WWF-Australia. Published by WWF-Australia, Sydney, 7 pp 

Margules Poyry (1997). Farm Forestry in the Top End - Strategic Plan. Prepared for Greening 

Australia Ltd and NT Forestry and Timber Products Network 

Quayle, S. (2001) Farm forestry: Its role in rural propertymanagement. DPI Victoria, Bendigo. 

December, 2001AG0989. ISSN 1329-8062 

Whitbread, M., Reilly, D. and Robertson, B. (2003) African Mahogany Timber Industry Strategy for 

the Top End of the Northern Territory. Information booklet IB4. NT DPIFM 

197

Farm Forestry Species Trials 

in the Northern Territory 

By Mike Clark, David Carr, Tim Vercoe and Mat Hardy 

RIRDC Publication No. 09/091 

This report presents the results of a series of farm forestry species 

trials established in the Top End of the NT from 1998 until 

2003. The complete details relating to the trials include trial 

site descriptions, establishment and maintenance details, species 

performance results, key findings and recommendations. 

The report presents the results to help identify the best appearance 

grade tropical hardwood timber tree species and management 

options for a range of biophysical regions in the Top End of the 

NT. These trials compared the genetic and silvicultural variables of 

species under controlled conditions, and demonstrated differences 

within trials and between trials in a repeatable way. 

JVAP was managed by the Rural Industries Research and 

Development Corporation (RIRDC). The Rural Industries Research 

and Development Corporation (RIRDC) is a partnership between 

government and industry to invest in R&D for more productive and 

sustainable rural industries. We invest in new and emerging rural 

industries, a suite of established rural industries and national rural 

issues. 

Most of the information we produce can be downloaded for 

free or purchased from our website: www.rirdc.gov.au, or by 

phoning 1300 634 313 (local call charge applies). 

Most RIRDC books can be freely downloaded 

or purchased from www.rirdc.gov.au or by 

phoning 1300 634 313 (local call charge 

applies). 

www.rirdc.gov.au 

Contact RIRDC: 

Level 2 

15 National Circuit 

Barton ACT 2600 

PO Box 4776 

Kingston ACT 2604 

Ph: 02 6271 4100 

Fax: 02 6271 4199 

Email: rirdc@rirdc.gov.au 

web: www.rirdc.gov.au

Farm Forestry Species Trials in the Northern Territory - Bad Request

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