Assessment of Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) DC. And Swietenia macrophylla King plantations in Central-Western Mexico

Abstract

The success in the establishment and development of forest plantations depends on the fact that species are appropriate for the agroclimatic conditions of plantation sites. This study aimed to evaluate the survival and growth of 12-year forest plantations with Tabebuia rosea (rosy trumpet), and Swietenia macrophylla (Mahogany tree), established in four localities in the states of Colima, Nayarit, and Jalisco. Statistical differences in survival, normal diameter, height, volume, and their annual increments were assessed among species and localities through analysis of variance and Tukey-test. Results indicated that the survival of T. rosea ranged from 35 to 82 %, whereas in S. macrophylla it ranged from 79 to 83 %. There were significant differences among localities (P < 0.05) in the evaluated growth variables. T. rosea stood out by its normal diameter, height, and volume in locality IV (Coast of Jalisco), whereas S. macrophylla had a better development in normal diameter and volume in locality II (El Verdineño), possibly by the effect of soil type in these sites. These results suggest that sites with edafoclimatic conditions similar to these localities are appropriate for the establishment of forest plantations with both tropical species in central-western Mexico.