Growth and yield of Pinus merkusii in Indonesia

Abstract

Pinus merkusii is indigenous in North Sumatra but has been planted extensively over Sumatra and Java. From data, derived from a number of sample plots (which as a result of the war, were far from perfect, however), a yield table has been computed for even-aged, pure stands, for five site quality classes and for ages up to 35 years. For the average site quality and the usual plant spacing of 3 X 3 meters the average annual increment culminates at the age of 25 years with 22.4 cubic meters per hectare (320 cubic feet per acre) thickwood volume excluding bark. The annual production depends on the initial plant spacing, ranging from 26 m 3 pro year pro hectare at the age of 20 years for 2 X 2 meters spacing, to 19 m 3 at 25 years for 4 X 4 meters spacing.