Effectiveness of Direct Seeding for Forest Restoration on Severely Degraded Land in Lampang Province, Thailand

Abstract

This study tested the\reffectiveness of direct seeding to establish framework tree species, for restoring\rforest ecosystems at an opencast lignite mine in Lampang Province, Thailand. A\rrandomized complete block design (RCBD) experiment tested five tree species (Afzelia\rxylocarpa (Kurz) Craib, Eugenia\rcumini (L.) Druce, Ficus\rracemosa Roxb., Gmelina\rarborea Roxb. and Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken) with 5\rsubstrate amelioration treatments and 3 replicates. Germination percent was the\rhighest for Afzelia xylocarpa (88.1%) and lowest for Ficus racemosa (5.9%). The substrate amelioration treatments had no significant effects on\rboth seed germination and seedling establishment for all species tested. Schleichera\roleosa had the highest seedling establishment percent (45%) followed by Afzelia\rxylocarpa (40%). A suitability\rscoring system indicated that these two species were the most suitable for\rdirect seeding to complement other techniques of mine site rehabilitation in\rnorthern Thailand, where establishment of indigenous forest tree species is\rrequired for biodiversity recovery.