Potential Areas for Growing Gmelina arborea Roxb., under Rainfed Conditions in Tabasco, Mexico

Abstract

Gmelina arborea Roxb. (Melina), also known as white teak, is a tropical tree of great importance with multiple benefits. It is a timber species with renewal capacity and accelerated growth, highly durable and high quantity and quality pulp production, widely used in commercial programs of reforestation. In view of a possible increase of Melina areas in the state of Tabasco Mexico, information was needed in relation with the physical environment and natural factors in order to locate the most suitable areas under rainfed conditions. In this way, decision makers will be provided with a basic tool to direct and promote commercial plantations in the best suitable areas. The software Arc/View version 3.3 was used to process and analyze the information. The optimum agroclimatic requirements of Melina were identified and each variable factor was matched with those found at ground level. A cartographic mapping was carried out to regionalize and locate the optimal and suboptimal zones. It was determined that there are 191,532 ha of high potential and 542,573 ha of medium potential production areas of Melina in Tabasco, Mexico under rainfed conditions.