Studies on Introduction of Cold-tolerant Tree Species /Provenances of Eucalyptus to Mountane Region in Western Fujian

Abstract:

The introduction experiments of 21 cold-tolerant species with 53 provenances of Eucalyptus at 5.5-year-old had been carried out, which survival and growth characteristics were studied. The results showed that there were significant differences among species and provenances in plant height, DBH and volume and survival. The tested species/provenances could be divided into five clusters by cluster analysis. The E. grandis, E. dunnii and E. benthamii, derived from Near Coffs Harbour NSW (20116) and NSW (20633 and 18788), respectively, had high volume growth at 5-year-old for 171.03 m3 hm-2, 158.61 m3 hm-2 and 110.962 m3 hm-2, respectively. The original altitude had little effect on growth and adaptability, whereas rainfall pattern was the key factor for introduction. The best species/provenances were introduced from 26º~30ºS including southern Queensland, New South Wares and northern Victoria of Austria. E. dunnii, E. grandis, E. benthamii and E. saligna could tolerant the low temperature of -4℃～-4.5℃, so that they were suitable for introduction in mountane region of western Fujian.

Key words:Eucalyptus; Cold-tolerant; Species/provenance; Subtropical zone; Western of Fujian