Corangamite Farm Forestry Project

Species/Provenance Trials and Demonstration sites

Collated Reports

Sue HarrisDepartment of Primary Industries, ColacNovember 2008

Contents

Background

List of Trials and PSPs covered in this report

Summary of Trials table

Summary of the trials

1. Sugar gum provenance trials – Werneth and Shelford (see Appendix 1)A. WernethB. Shelford

2. Species Trial - Warrambeen (see Appendix 2)3. Species Demonstration Trial –A. Marshall, Shelford4. Pinus pinaster Yield Response Trial - Shelford5. Species Trials – Irrewillipe 1995 row plantings and 1994 block plantings6. Species Demonstration Trial – Boorcan (see Appendix 3)

Permanent Sample Plots

1. Cypress leylandii – Bellarine Peninsula2. Corymbia maculata – Colac3. Eucalyptus globulus ssp globulus – Camperdown4. Pinus radiata - Shelford5. E.globulus, E.bicostata, E.cladocalyx and E.viminalis – Lismore

Appendix 1. Results of two sugar gum provenance trials on the basalt plains in Western Victoria

Appendix 2. Warrambeen Species Demonstration Trials Results from 2002 assessment and later observations at May 2008

Appendix 3. Species Demonstration Trial – Boorcan

Background

The Corangamite Farm Forestry Project established a network of sites across the Corangamite Region between 1994 and 1996. The sites trial a range of species and provenances, demonstrate various farm forestry options and provide a focus for field days. The Corangamite Farm Forestry Project was an initiative under the National Forest Program funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry-Australia and the Department of Primary Industries.

This report provides a summary of seven of the trials and results of the most recent assessment for each site. The trials will continue to be valuable in providing information on the long-term suitability of a range of species.

Information on Permanent Sample Plots on five sites is also included.

All the trials are on private land. The trials are managed by DPI, Colac and the landholders.

Individual paper files for the sites are in storage and currently unavailable following the 2007 Colac office fire.

List of Trials and PSPs covered in this report

Low rainfall sites1 Sugar gum provenance trials – Werneth and Shelford (separate report in Appendix 1)2 Species trials – Warrambeen (separate report in Appendix 2)3 Species demonstration trial – Shelford4 ALRTIG Pinus pinaster trial - Shelford

High rainfall sites5 Species trials – Irrewillipe 1995 row plantings and 1994 block plantings6 Species demonstration trial – Boorcan (separate report in Appendix 3)

Permanent Sample Plots1. Cupressus leylandii - Bellarine Peninsula2. Corymbia maculata - Colac 3. E. globulus spp globulus – Camperdown4. Pinus radiata - Shelford5. E.globulus ssp.globulus etc - Lismore

Table: Summary of TrialsTrial type Year

PlantedLocation Landholder Species Mean

Rainfall (mm/year)

Area (ha)

Most recent thin,

prune

Most recent measurement

Notes Experimental factors and No. treatments

No. replicates

Provenance trial

1996 Werneth, north of Cressy

Peter Hirth E.cladocalyx 530 0.7 2008 2006 DBH, Ht2002 form

Provenance (6)

5

Provenance trial

1996 Shelford Kevin Blake E.cladocalyx 500 0.7 2008 2006 DBH, Ht2002 form

Provenance (5)

5

Species trial 1994, 1995

RokewoodWarrambeen

Ian Taylor E.cladocalyxE.sideroxylonE.tricarpaE.astringensC.maculataCas glauca

600 1 2008 2002 DBH, Ht Species (15)

Species demonstration trial

1994 Shelford Andrew Marshall

E.cladocalyxE.sideroxylonE.tricarpaC.maculataCas glauca

500 1.5 2003 2000, DBH, Ht, form

Demonstration Species (11)

ALRTIG Yield Response

2,000 Shelford Kevin Blake Pinus pinaster

500 3 Thin 12.2008Prune 2005

2008 DBH, Ht for one replication

Stackpole D et el 2001 Establishment report for Pinus pinaster Yield Response Trials XS.28

6

Species demonstration trial

1995 Irrewillipe, Simpson

HVP C.maculataE.salignaE.cladocalyx

1030 0.3 2003 2000 additional row and block planting

Species (15)

Species demonstration trial

1994 Boorcan, west of Camperdown

Brad Gilmour E. globulus E. nitens P. radiata etc

900 4.5 2006 2002 species (19) 4

ATSC Provenance family trial

1998 Shelford Andrew Marshall

E.occidentalis

500 2.5 nil measured twice2005 R.Arnold, ATSC

To be converted to a seed orchard.Seed available in 2007Not included in this report

Seedlots (90) representing 25 provenances

8

Species trial 1989 Irrewillipe, Simpson

HVP E. nitens E.globulus C.maculata E.viminalis P.radiata etc

1030 5 1995 2000 Wong et al. 2000 Growth of 9 Eucalyptus seedlots and Pinus radiata to age 10 years at Irrewillipe, Victoria. CFTT Report No:2000/006. Not included in this report

Species (26) 3

Summary of the trials

1. Sugar gum provenance trials – Werneth and Shelford

See separate report in Appendix 1. Results of two sugar gum provenance trials on the basalt plains of western Victoria, July 2008

A. Werneth siteLandholder: Peter HirthFile no.: Colac 04 96/84Property location: Werneth Rd, 9km SW of Rokewood

CFA Region 6, Map 481E, GR330951Rainfall: 550mm/yearLand use: cropping, sheepArea: 1 haSpacing: 3m x 3m, Initial stocking 1330 trees/haLayout: 6 provenances in randomised block design with 5 replicatesSoil type: basalt derived clay loamSpecies: E. cladocalyx

Provenance CSIRO seedlot number

No. of parent trees in seedlot

Latitude Longitude Altitude(m) Mean annual rainfall1

(mm)Deg Min Deg Min

Wirrabara 16013 13 33 02 138 12 480 480Wanilla 16018 10 34 33 135 44 200 520Flinders Chase NP 16022 10 35 45 136 38 80 630Wilmington 16089 10 32 43 138 06 580 450Marble Range 19349 10 34 30 135 30 0 490Lismore collection 37 58 143 20 150 620

B. Shelford siteLandholder: Kevin and Jenny BlakeFile no.: Colac 04 96/85Property location: Eastern Access Rd, 13.5 km SE of RokewoodRainfall: 500mm/yearLand use: cropping, sheepArea: 1 haSpacing: 3m x 3m, Initial stocking 1330 trees/haLayout: 5 provenances in randomised block design with 5 replicatesSoil type: basalt derived claySpecies: E. cladocalyxProvenances: As above but without Wanilla

Werneth and Shelford sites were both- Planted November 1996.Assessed at 3,5.5,6.5 and 9 yearsThinned and pruned at 6.5 and 11 years. Current stock approx. 500 trees/ha.

1

2. Species trials – Warrambeen

See separate report in Appendix 2. Warrambeen Species Demonstration Trials

Results from 2002 assessment and later observations at May 2008

Landholder: Ian and Trish TaylorFile no.: Colac 04 94/56Property location: east of Rokewood

CFA Region 7, Map 482E, GR515975Rainfall: 600mm/yearLand use: cropping, sheepArea: 1 haSpacing: 3.5m x 2.2m, Initial stocking 1300 trees/haLayout: Random blocks of 8 x 8 trees for each provenance. Replication of key

species only.Soil type: basalt derived clay with some surface rocksAssessment: assessed in 2000 and May 2002.Management: thinned and pruned in 2001, 2004 and 2008. Stocking is now less than

600 trees/ha.

Species and provenances trialled.Species Common name Provenance/CSIRO seedlot number Year

planted

Acacia mearnsiiBlack wattle Anglesea* 1994

Acacia melanoxylon Blackwood Carlisle* 1994Allocasuarina verticillata Drooping sheoak Portarlington

Peterborough19941994

Casuarina cunninghamiana River sheoak Urriarra SF, ACT*/17903Augathella, Qld

19941994

Casuarina glauca Swamp sheoak Singleton, NSW/16362 1994Corymbia maculata“““Corymbia citriodora ssp.variegata

Spotted gum Bodalla, NSW/19102Ewingar, SF NSW/16899Batemans BayNSW*/16049“Pine Lake”HorshamWarwick, Qld/16360

19951994199419941995

Cupressus macrocarpa Monterey cypress Longwood, New Zealand, PVI 1994Eucalyptus astringens Brown mallet Kundip, WA/17686 1994Eucalyptus camaldulensis River red gum Barmah SF* 1994Eucalyptus cladocalyx Sugar gum You Yangs (CNR 800)

Mt Remarkable NP, southern Flinders Ra, SAWilmington, SA*/15268

19941995

1994Eucalyptus microcarpa Grey box Benalla*

Bendigo*19941995

Eucalyptus saligna Sydney blue gum Gibralter Range, NSW/18362 1995Eucalyptus sideroxylon Red iron bark Kilawarra SF, Wangaratta*/15200 1994Eucalyptus tricarpa Red iron bark Angahook/Lorne SF

Murrungowar (CNR 601),NE of Orbost19941994

Eucalyptus viminalis Manna gum Carlisle River, Otway Ranges ‘89 1995Pinus radiata Radiata pine Victree Forests Pty Ltd CP cuttings 1994

Note: * Provenance block planting replicated twice. CSIRO seedlots refer to the Australian Tree Seed Centre.

3. Species Demonstration Trial – A. Marshall, Shelford

Landholder: Andrew MarshallFile no.: Colac 04/94/0057Property location: “Spring Plains”, Rokewood-Shelford Road, Shelford.Rainfall: 500mm/year (closer to 400mm/year since planting)Land use: Sheep, cropping, organic farming practiceArea: 1.5ha, Spacing: 3.5mx2m, Initial stocking: 1430 trees/haLayout: Species in single rowsSoil type: Heavy cracking clays (basalt derived), winter water loggingPlanted: 4/11/1994

This trial had a focus on sheoak species as the landholder had an interest in growing sheoaks on the property.

There is also an Australian Tree Seed Centre E.occidentalis family trial on the property established in 1988.

Species ProvenanceAllocasuarina verticillata Peterborough

PortarlingtonHamilton

Casuarina glauca Mt HesseSingleton, NSW (CSIRO 16362)

Casuarina cunninghamiana Augathella,QldUrriarra S.F. ACT (CSIRO 17903) Lanark, HamiltonKatherine,NT

Corymbia maculata Batemans Bay, NSW (CSIRO 16049)Ewingar SF, NSW (CSIRO 16899)

Cupressus macrocarpa NZ via PVI, HamiltonCupressus lusitanica HamiltonEucalyptus astringens Kundip, WA (CSIRO 17686)E.bosistoana Lake TyersE. mircocarpa BenallaE.sideroxylonE.tricarpa

Wangaratta (CSIRO 15200)Murungower, NE of Orbost CNR 601

Management:Organic farming techniques are used on this property and the seedlings were planted into a cultivated site following cropping.Some form pruning was carried out in Feb 1998. Lift pruning and cull thinning were carried out at 7 years

Results:

SurvivalSurvival rates were very variable between species. Species that recorded the best survival rates at five years were E. bosistoana (100%), Casuarina glauca (94%), Casuarina cunninghamiana (93%), E.sideroxylon (93%) and Cupressus macrocarpa (95%).

Allocasuarina stricta and Corymbia maculata had the lowest percentage survival of 46% and 25% respectively. The Ewingar provenance of C. maculata recorded a survival rate of 11% compared with 40% for Batemans Bay provenance. They were adversely affected by winter water-logging in the early years.

Severe hail in December 1997 caused damage to the bark of stem and branches of a number of species.

Growth Growth has been very slow on this difficult site. E. sideroxylon (Wangaratta) and E. astringens (Kundip, WA) were the fastest growing species, however the form of E.astringens was very poor. E.occidentalis replacements, although not part of the trial, performed very well.

Of the ironbarks, E.sideroxylon performed better than E. tricarpa. For E.sideroxylon, 96% of trees were recorded in combined form class 1 and 2, while 36% for E. tricarpa (Form class 1 refers to single, straight stem. Trees were assessed as one of four form classess).

While Cupressus macrocarpa grew well in the early years, canker problems were apparent at four years. Cupressus lusitanica was a slower grower than C. macrocarpa but it had the advantage of being less canker susceptible. Both species had good form with C. lusitanica and C. macrocarpa recording 75% and 60% of plants in form class 1respectively.

Of the sheoaks, Casuarina glauca coped better with the difficult conditions of winter water-logging in the early years and the long, dry summers. Growth rates of she-oaks were very slow.

E.bosistoana and E.microcarpa were trialled to provide additional species options for producing durable hardwood. E.bosistoana performed moderately well considering the trial site is well below its preferred rainfall range. The form of E. microcarpa was very poor.

Corymbia maculata was a very poor performer on this site.

Conclusions:

E sideroxylon showed the most promise on this difficult site. Attention to corrective form pruning would increase the likelihood of achieving the desired products.

While the growth rate of E.astringens was good, its’ form was very poor limiting its use to shelter, shade and other amenity planting purposes.

E.occidentalis replacements grew well. The Australian Tree Seed Centre trial on the property includes some families that demonstrate excellent form and growth rates.

Mean DBH Marshall's trial Shelford - Jan 2000, 5 years

0.5

0.6

1.1

1.1

1.2

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.7

1.8

2.0

2.0

2.5

2.6

2.9

3.1

3.3

4.2

4.9

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0

C.maculata/Ewingar SF

Cas. cunningh/Katherine NT

C.maculata/Batemans Bay

Cas. cunningh/Urriarra, ACT

Allocas. vert/Peterborough

Allocas. vert./Portarlington

E.microcarpa/Bendigo

Cas. cunningh/Aug QLD

Allocas. vert./Hamilton

Cas. cunningh/Lanark

E.microcarpa/Benalla

Cup. lucitanica/Hamilton

Cas. glauca/Mt Hesse

Cas. glauca/Singleton

E.tricarpa/Orbost

E.bosistiana/Lake Tyers

Cup. macrocarpa/PVI Hamilton

E. astringens/WA

E.sideroxylon/WangarattaS

pec

ies/

pro

ven

ance

Mean DBH (cm)

MeanDBH (cm)

Mean height Marshall's trial, Shelford Jan 2000, 5 years

1.2

1.4

1.7

1.7

1.9

1.9

2.1

2.1

2.1

2.1

2.4

2.5

2.5

2.5

2.6

2.6

2.8

3.1

3.5

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

C.maculata/Ewingar SF

Cas. cunningh/Katherine NT

C.maculata/Batemans Bay

E.microcarpa/Bendigo

Allocas. vertic/Peterbrough

Cas. cunningh/ Urriarra SF,ACT

E.microcarpa/Benalla

Cas. cunningh/Aug QLD

Allocas. vertic/ Hamilton

Cas.cunningh/Hamilton

E.tricarpa/Orbost

Cas. glauca/Mt Hesse

Allocas. vertic/Portarlington

Cup. lusitanica/Hamilton

C.glauca/Singleton

E.bosistiana/Lake Tyers

Cup. macrocarpa/Hamilton

E.sideroxylon/ Wangaratta

E.astringens/WAS

pec

ies/

pro

ven

ance

Mean Height (m)

Mean ht (m)

4. Pinus pinaster Yield Response Trials, Shelford

This is an Australian Low Rainfall Tree Improvement Group Trial

Refer to Establishment report (Report 2001/053, XS 28 2000) prepared by Des Stackpole et al, Centre for Forest Tree Technology Refer to DPI file RP/04/4580

Location: Trial located on property of Kevin and Jenny Blake, Eastern Access Rd. CFA region 7, 1996 Map 481 F 19.

Year planted 18.07.2000, Infills planted winter 2001Stocking/ha 1130 st/haArea 3 haThinning Thinned on 3.12.08 to reduce moisture stress. Observed yellowing and dropping

of needles on lower portion of branches of lower crown in spring 2008. 25-40% of trees removed. Criteria for selection for removal was based on tree form in the first instance.20% of P.radiata removed.

Pruning Lift pruned in 2005 by landholder. Variable height of pruning. Advanced trees pruned to 2m

Treatments 5 yield treatments each containing 16 yield families

AssessmentPlot 6 only was assessed at 5.8 years (5.05.08) with a full assessment made by Mike Cully, CALM, WA and Sue Harris. (Results: Mean DBH = 9.5cm, Mean Ht = ~4.5m, survival = 59%, plus detailed form assessments). Growth was not advanced enough to warrant assessment of entire site.

Plots 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19 and two P. radiata stba 3.1 plots were assessed at 7.8 years (13.05.08). All diameters and mdh of original plants was assessed. Infills were not included in the assessment.

Results of assessment at 8 years

Survival of the original planted trees for six assessed P. pinaster plots was 63%. Survival of the infills planted one year later was high but growth was suppressed.

P.radiata is growing faster than P.pinaster with a mean diameter of P.radiata seedlings of 16.3 cm compared with 12.2cm for P. pinaster. P.radiata cuttings had better form than P.radiata seedlings.

Assessment results – 8 years.Plot Number Mean DBH (cm) Survival (%) Mean dominant

height(m)6 12.5 59 6.47 11.4 648 12.1 569 12.4 6710 12.2 78 6.819 12.3 53Mean of 6 plots 12.2 63 6.6

P. radiata seedlings stba 3.1 16.3 79 ~ 8P. radiata cuttings stba 3.1 15.1 61 ~ 8

5. Species Trials – Irrewillipe 1995 row plantings and 1994 block plantings

Trial manager and owner: DPI, Colac Landholder: Hancocks Plantations VictoriaFile number: Colac 04/95/0043Property location: Corner Crescent Rd and Biro Lane, Irrewillipe Plantation,

Heytesbury.Approx. 12km east of Simpson

Rainfall: 1030mm/yearLanduse: Previously grazing Rural Finance Commission, Currently radiata

pine plantation.These trials are additional plantings within the 1989 Irrewillipe Species Trial

Area: 0.3

A 1994 Block Plantings

Spacing: 3mx3mLayout: Replacement blocks within original 1989 Irrewillipe species trials

Blocks of 49 trees (7x7)Species: 10 species listed in the table belowManagement: Some form pruning at 3 years

First thinning at 8 yearsPruned to 6m

Assessed: Feb 2000, 5.5 years

Species ProvenanceCorymbia maculata Ewingar SF, NSW - CSIRO 16899E. bosistoana Lake TyersE. benthamii Kedumba, NSW (CSIRO 18787) E. cladocalyx You YangsE. cypellocarpa Charlies Ck, OtwaysE. dunnii “Flushing meadows”, NSWE. nitens EricaE. viminalis Carlisle, OtwaysAcacia melanoxylon Carlisle, Otways

Mt Sabine, OtwaysCupressus macrocarpa NZ via PVI, Hamilton

Results and discussionE.niten/Erica was the fastest growing species and had excellent form. It was also the best performing species/provenance in the earlier species trial on the site planted in 1989.

E.dunnii and E.benthamii recorded good growth rates and E.benthamii displayed good form. These species have seldom been planted in the Otways so the trials provide a useful example of their performance. The local E.viminalis surpassed the growth of both these species.

Acacia melanoxylon and Cupressus macrocarpa were the slowest growing species.

E.nitens, Cupressus macrocarpa, E. cypellocarpa and E. benthamii all had very good form with greater than 70% of trees in form class 1.

All the species had better form than expected. This is likely to relate to the shelter benefits of planting these species blocks within an established trial.

Irrewillipe Species Trials (block plantings) -Mean diameter and height at 5.5 years

0

24

6

810

12

14

1618

20

E. nite

ns/E

rica

E. vim

inalis

/Car

lisle

E. dun

nii/F

lushin

g m

eadow

s

E. ben

tham

ii/Ked

umba

E. cyp

elloc

arpa

/Cha

rlies C

k

E .cla

doca

lyx/Y

ou Y

angs

A. mela

noxy

on/M

t Sab

ine

A. mela

noxy

lon/C

arlis

le

Cupre

ssus

mac

roca

rpa/

N2

Species/provenance

Mea

n d

iam

eter

(cm

) an

d H

eig

ht

(m)

diam

height

Irrewillipe Species Trials (block plantings) - Percentage of trees in Form class 1 at 5.5 years

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

E.nite

ns/E

rica

Cup m

acro

carp

a/NZ

E. cyp

elloc

arpa

/Cha

rlies Ck

E. ben

tham

ii/Ked

umba

A. melan

oxylo

n/Mt S

abine

A.mela

noxy

lon/C

arlis

le

E.dun

nii/F

lush

ing M

eado

ws

E.clad

ocalyx

/You

Yan

gs

Species/provenance

Per

cen

tag

e

B 1995 Row Plantings

Spacing: 3.5m x 2m Layout: Additional single rows adjacent to the original 1989 Irrewillipe species

trialsSpecies: 10 species listed in the table belowManagement: Some form pruning at 3 years.

First thinning at 8 years. Stocking reduced by half to 700 trees/ha.Pruned to 6mFirewood harvested at first thinning.Stumps treated with roundup to prevent coppice. Some flashback deaths especially for tree adjacent to large diameter E. saligna stumps.

Assessed: Feb 2000, 4.5 years

Species ProvenanceE. viminalis GellibrandE.globulus ssp globulus Otways

APME. cladocalyx Wirrabara forest reserve, SAE.microcarpa Kingower SF, Bendigo - CNR 94/012E.saligna Gibraltor Range SF, NSW – CSIRO 18362Corymbia maculata Ewingar SF, NSW – CSIRO 16899

Bodalla, NSW – CSIRO 19102Corymbia citriodora ssp. variegata Warwick, Qld – CSIRO 16360Acacia melanoxylon OtwaysCupressus macrocarpa PVI, HamiltonCupressus lusitanica PVI, Hamilton

Results and discussion

High survival rates were recorded for all species apart from E. microcarpa which had a survival rate of 77% at 4.5 years.

E. globulus was the fastest growing species with the Otway provenance recording very good height growth. The form of this provenance was very good also with 88% of trees in form class 1. E. saligna also grow well on this site.

There was little difference between the growth rates of different species and provenances of spotted gum. All had good form, in particular C.citriodora ssp variegata with 82% of trees in form class 1.

The slowest growing species were E. microcarpa and A. melanoxylon. E. microcarpa and Cupressus macrocarpa recorded the poorest form with both only having 4% of trees in form class 1. In contrast, C. lusitanica had very good form with 76% of trees in form class 1.

Irrewillipe Species Trials (rows) - Height and diameter at 4.5 years

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

E.globu

lus/APM

E.globu

lus/Otw

ays

E.salig

na/G

ilbra

ltar Ra

E.vim

inal

is/G

ellib

rand

C.m

aculata/B

odal

la

C.c

itriod ss

p var

/Warw

C.m

aculata/E

winga

r

E.cladoc

alyx

/Wirr

abar

a

Cup

.lusita

nica

/PVI

Cup

.macr

ocarp

a/PV

I

E.micro

carp

a/Kin

gowen

A.melan

oxy

lon/

Otw

ays

Me

an

He

igh

t (m

) a

nd

Me

an

DB

H (

cm

)

Height

DBH

Irrewillipe Species Trial (rows) - Percentage in Form class 1 at 4.5 years

0102030405060708090

100

E.globu

lus/ O

tway

s

C. citr

iodo

ra ssp

.var

/War

wick

Cup.lusit

anica/PVI

E.globu

lus/APM

C. macu

lata/E

winga

r

C.mac

ulat

a/Bod

alla

A.melano

xylon/Otw

ays

E.clado

calyx/W

irrab

ara F.

Res

E.saligna

/Gilb

ralta

r Ra.

E.vim

inalis/

Gellib

rand

E.micro

carp

a/Kin

gowen

Cup.m

acroc

arpa

PVI

Species/provenance

Pe

rce

nta

ge

Corymbia maculata and E. globulus rows – Irrewillipe, Nov. 2007

E. dunnii – Irrewillipe, Nov 2007

6. Species Demonstration Trial – Boorcan

See separate report in Appendix 3: Boorcan Species Demonstration TrialsResults from assessment at 5 years and later observations at May 2008

Landholder: Brad and Marg GilmourFile no.: Colac 04/94/0058Property location: Cobden-Terang Rd, Boorcan,

15 km west of Camperdown.Rainfall: 900mm/yearLand use: Beef cattle, fine wool merinosArea: 4.5 haSpacing: 3m x2.5m, Initial stocking 1330 trees/haPlanted: Spring 1994Layout: Species in single or double rows of 100 trees per row, with four replications across the siteSoil type: clay loam, prone to winter water loggingSpecies: 18 species and 30 provenances

Species ProvenanceA. melanoxylon Mt Sabine, Otways

Carlisle, Otways A. mearnsii NaringalCasuarina cunninghamiana Urriarra SF, ACT (CSIRO 17903)

Katherine, NT Augathella, Qld“Lanark”, Hamilton, PVI

Corymbia maculata Ewingar S.F. NSW (CSIRO 16899) E. bosistoana Lake TyersE. benthamii Kedumba, NSW (CSIRO 18787)E. cypellocarpa Charlies Creek, OtwaysE.camaldulensis Barmah CNR 500

Barmah Vicflora E. cypellocarpa Charlies Ck, Otways E. globulus ssp globulus King Is

Jeeralang Otways

E. grandis Shepparton plantation E. microcarpa BenallaE. nitens Trentham collection

Mt Erica E. saligna Coffs Harbour, NSW

Wild cattle Ck SF, NSW * Yadbora (CSIRO 16629)

E. sideroxylon Murungower (CNR 601)E. viminalis Charlies Crk, Otways

Gellibrand, Otways Cupressus macrocarpa New Zealand (PVI)Pinus radiata Victree control pollinated cuttings Robinia pseudoacacia (Black Locust) Hungary

Permanent Sample Plots

1. PSP Cypress leylandii – Bellarine Peninsula

Location: Site located at 40 Scotchman's Rd, Bellarine. Region 7 2nd edition, Rural Directory Reference Map 522C, GR905747.

Site summary table:Owner/ contact Tony & Jeni TrudgeonPhone Species assessed Cupressus leylandiiOther species planted noneRainfall 500mmYear planted Sept. - 1984Number of plots 2Planting type blockPlanted area 1.5 haCultivation none, machine plantedWeeding Triquat - 1 yr oldFertiliser Poultry manure - 5yr oldIrrigation regularly watered for two yearsThinning none - wide spacedPruning lift pruned to 4-4.5 m

Plot locations:Plot 1 NW corner: From the northwest corner of the plantation, head 20m east and 27.5 m south.

Plot 2 NW corner: From the northwest corner of Plot 1 head 60m east and 20m south.

2002 Assessment summary table:Species Plot No Plot stocking/ha mean form mean diam MDH

dimensions (cm) (m)

Cupressus leylandii 125m (along row) x 24m 330 1.1 25.3 12.5

Cupressus leylandii 2

25m (along row) x 24m 320 1.1 24.2 11.2

Site Average 325 1.1 24.7 11.9

Site growth comparison:Mean Diam Mean Dominant Mean Form Basal Area Vol Pruned Vol

(cm) Height (m) (1-3) (m2) (m3) (m3 to 4.2m)1996 Site Av. 21.8 9.2 1 12.17 37.01 19.44

2002 Site Av. 24.7 11.9 1.1 15.66 62.16 43.51

mean diam meandominant

height

form

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

height (m), diam (cm),

form

Trudgeon Cypress Plantation2002 Assessment Summary

plot 1

plot 2

Trudgeon Cypress Plantation

Site Average: growth from 1996 to 2002

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Trudgeon Cypress Plantation

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2. PSP Corymbia maculata- Colac

Location: Site located 2 km east of Colac, on the property of Ian Ware, off J Barry's Rd. CFA region 6 edition 2, 2000, Map 542B, GR285509.

Site summary table:Owner/ contact Ian WarePhone 52315910Species assessed Corymbia maculata (East Gippsland)Other species planted E. cladocalyx, E. botryoides, E. argophoia, Acacia mearnsiiRainfall 600-700 mmYear planted Nov-99Number of plots 2Stocking/ha 1230Planting type blockPlanted area approx. 4 - 5 ha. Cultivation ripped & moundedWeeding row (1st season)Fertiliser noneIrrigation noneThinning nonePruning form pruned

Plot locations:Plot 1 NW corner: From the fence at the western end of the plantation, head 33m east along the 7th row (counting from the north side). The plot includes the 7th row.

Plot 2 NW corner: Located at the opposite end of the plantation to plot 1. From the easternmost tree of row 24 (counting from the southern side of the plantation, and including younger plantings), head 23m west. The plot includes the 24th row.

Assessment summary table – May –June 2002:Species Plot No Plot stocking/ha mean form mean diam mean Height MDH

dimensions (cm) (m) (m)

Spotted gum/C. maculata 119.6m (8trees) x 21.5m (6 rows) 1190.5 1.8 5.7 5.0 5.5

Spotted gum/C. maculata 2

19.5m (8 trees) x 21m (6 rows) 1268.3 1.8 5.8 5.0 5.4

Site average 1230.0 1.8 5.8 5.0 5.5

Form summary table- 2002:Plot Form Rating-No of trees in class Total No survival

1 2 3 trees in plot %1 13 34 3 50 1002 13 34 5 52 100

Combined total 26 68 8 102

Ian Ware’s treated spotted gum posts from thinnings – Colac, Sept 2009

Pinus pinaster yield trial – Shelford, May 2008

3. PSP E. globulus ssp globulus - Camperdown

(File lost following Colac office fire.)

Location: Dundee Park”, 698 Cross Forrest Road, Cobden8km SW of Camperdown

Site summary table:Owner/ contact Les MulhollandPhone Species assessed E. globulus ssp globulus/EPFL sourceOther species planted noneRainfall 850mmYear planted spring 2002Number of plots 1Stocking/ha 1000Planting type blockPlanted area 5haCultivationWeedingFertiliserIrrigationThinning Light 1st thin Pruning pruned to 2.5m

A 170 ha EPFL bluegum plantation is also on the property

Les Mulholland setting up a PSP in his blue gums, Camperdown

4. PSP Pinus radiata – Shelford

Location: Site located on property of Kevin Blake, Eastern Access Rd. CFA region 7edition 2, 1996, Map 481 F 19.

Site summary table:Owner/ contact Kevin BlakePhone Species assessed Pinus radiataOther species planted noneRainfall 500mmYear planted 1982 - 1983Number of plots 1Stocking/ha 1111Planting type blockPlanted area approx. 0.4haCultivationWeedingFertiliserIrrigationThinning 2nd thin completed. Fence posts harvested, CCA treatment at Sheltons, ColacPruning pruned to 6m

Plot location: NE corner of plot (marked by post) is located one third distance along eastern side of plantation (from NE corner). Plot includes edge trees. Assessment summary table at May – June 2002:

Species Plot No Plot stocking/ha mean form mean diam mean height MDH Stand BA Stand Voldimensions (cm) (m) (m) (m2/ha) (m3/ha)

Pinus radiata 1 20m x 20m 1025 1.4 18.9 14.1 14.6 30.1 146.3

Summary Charts:

Blake Pine Plantation

Site growth from 1996 to 2002

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5. PSP E.globulus, E.bicostata, E.cladocalyx and E.viminalis - Lismore

Location: Site located west of intersection of CAMPERDOWN BALLARAT RD and TOOLIOROOK LAKE RD. CFA region 6, 2000, Map 479F, GR079938.

Site summary table:Owner/ contact Rob Millard (previously Andrew Lang)Phone Species assessed E. globulus, E. bicostata, E. cladocalyx, P. radiata

Other species plantedCasuarina cunninghamiana, E. botryoides, E. viminalis, E. obliqua, E. camaldulensis, E. nitens, E. Acacia mearnsii, various others

Rainfall 500-550mmYear planted Oct 97 ( P. radiata planted Sept 96)Number of plots 7Stocking/ha naPlanting type blockPlanted areaCultivationWeedingFertiliserIrrigationThinning yesPruning yes

Plot locations:Plot 1 NE corner: From the fence at the northern end of the plantation, head 45m south along the 1st Vic Blue gum row (counting from the eastern end). The plot includes the 1st row.

Plot 2 NE corner: From plot 1 NE corner, head 45m south and one row west.

Plot 3 NE corner: From plot 2 NE corner, head 45m south and one row west.

Plot 4 NE corner: From the fence at the northern end of the plantation, head 50m south along the 4th Tas Blue gum row (counting from the eastern end). The plot includes the 4th row.

Plot 5 NE corner: From the fence at the northern end of the plantation, head 50m south along the 4th Sugar gum row (counting from the eastern end). The plot includes the 4th row.

Plot 6 NE corner: From the fence at the northern end of the plantation, head 50m south along the 3rd Radiata pine row (counting from the eastern end). The plot includes the 3rd row.

Plot 7 NE corner: From the fence at the northern end of the plantation, head 150m south along the 14th Radiata pine row (counting from the eastern end). The plot includes the 14th row.

Assessment summary table (May – June 2002):

Species Plot No Plot stocking/ha mean form mean diam mean Height MDHdimensions (cm) (m) (m)

Vic Bluegum E. bicostata 130m (along row) x 15m (3 rows) 888.9 1.6 7.8 7.4 8.4

Vic Bluegum E. bicostat a 230m (along row) x 15m (3 rows) 911.1 1.6 7.5 7.3 9.2

Vic Bluegum E. bicostata 330m (along row) x 15m (3 rows) 800.0 1.8 8.6 7.1 9.1

Tas Bluegum E. globulus 418m (8 trees) x 24.5m (6 rows) 1043.1 1.7 7.2 5.7 6.6

Sugar gum E. cladocalyx 521.7m (8 trees) x 21.8m (5 rows) 930.1 2.2 9.5 6.2 6.5

Pinus radiata (wide row) 622m (7 trees) x 23m (6 rows) 849.8 1.3 15.1 7.3 7.6

Pinus radiata (narrow row) 7

17.5m (8 trees) x 15.6m (6 rows) 1685.0 1.5 12.3 7.1 7.5

Andrew Lang Lake Planting2002 - Form Assessment Summary

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Andrew Lang Lake Planting2002 - Diameter Assessment Summary

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Andrew Lang Lake Planting2002 - Height Assessment Summary

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Andrew Lang Lake Planting

Vic Blue gum Diameter growth from 2000 to 2002

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Appendix 1. Results of two sugar gum provenance trials on the basalt plains in Western Victoria

Sue Harris Department of Primary Industries, Colac, VictoriaUpdated July 2008

Summary

Eucalyptus cladocalyx (sugar gum) is well established on the basalt plains of Western Victoria where it was first introduced in 1876 through direct seeding of wide shelterbelts. These plantations provide multiple benefits of shelter, shade and a range of timber products, in particular firewood. More recently, the potential for producing high quality end products has been recognised.

This report outlines the results of the assessment of two sugar gum provenance trials on the basalt plains of western Victoria. The aim of the trials was to investigate the relative performance of five provenances of sugar gum from across the natural range in South Australia where sugar gum is endemic and also a local seed collection from the Lismore area.

While the Lismore seed collection showed the best early growth this didn’t extend beyond the assessment at 6.6 years. Differences between Lismore, Wirrabara and Wilmington had largely evened out by the 9.3 year assessment. Flinders Chase recorded the fastest growth rate at the 9.3 years assessment however it had poor stem form and excessive branching. Wanilla and then Marble Range were the worst performers

Method Two provenance trials were established on properties in the Werneth and Shelford areas. Five provenances and a collection from the Lismore area were trialed (Table 1). Table 1. Provenances trialled

Provenance CSIRO seedlot number

No. of parent trees in seedlot

Latitude Longitude Altitude(m) Mean annual rainfall2

(mm)Deg Min Deg Min

Wirrabara 16013 13 33 02 138 12 480 480Wanilla 16018 10 34 33 135 44 200 520Flinders Chase NP 16022 10 35 45 136 38 80 630Wilmington 16089 10 32 43 138 06 580 450Marble Range 19349 10 34 30 135 30 0 490Lismore collection 37 58 143 20 150 620

2 Estimated from Bureau of Meteorology isohyet maps.

The Wirrabara and Wilmington provenances are from the southern Flinders Range area, Wanilla and Marble Range are located on the Eyre Peninsula and Flinders Chase National Park is located on Kangaroo Island. The Wanilla provenance was trialed at the Werneth site only.

The Lismore seed collection was included as a benchmark for E.cladocalyx grown on the basalt plains of western Victoria. Sugar gum is widely planted in the Lismore and surrounding areas. The stand that the seed was collected from dates from direct sowing in the 1890s and has probably been coppiced twice. Its original provenance is most likely Wirrabara State Forest.

Trial sitesBoth of the trial sites are located on the basalt plains in the Rokewood area of western Victoria, approximately 50 km south of Ballarat. The Werneth site is on a lighter loamy clay soil type than the heavier clay soil of the Shelford site. The historical mean annual rainfall at Shelford and Werneth is 500 and 530 mm/year respectively. However, actual rainfall has been much less than this following the planting of the trials in November 1996.

The Werneth site is located on Peter Hirth’s property on Werneth Road, 9km SW of Rokewood. The Shelford site is located on Kevin and Jenny Blake’s property on Eastern Access Road 13.5km SE of Rokewood

Trial design: The trials were laid out as a randomised block design with five replicates of 25 tree plots (125 trees of each provenance). Spacing between trees was 3x3m. Three shelter rows were planted around the trials. The trial sites are approximately one hectare in size each.

Site preparation: The Werneth site was ripped on 26 May 1996 and the rip-lines rolled. Grass was controlled by strip spraying 2L/ha of Roundup CT 1.5m-wide over the rip-lines on 25 August and a follow up spray with 2L/ha Roundup CT and 3L/ha Simazine on 2 October. Sheep grazed the site up until planting. The seedlings were planted late in the season on 20 November and were guarded and watered in. They received a follow up watering on 29 November and then good rains in early December.

Management: The trials were thinned at 6.5 years with the stocking reduce by one third from 1110trees/ha to approximately 750 trees/ha. The worst 8 trees per 25 tree block were removed. Actual stocking post thinning varied with survival and also Marble Range and Wanilla received heavier cull thinning due to their poor form. Retained trees received a first lift pruning. A second thinning was carried out at 11 years with stocking reduced to around 500 trees/ha and retained trees pruned to up to 5.5 m

Measurement

The trials were assessed for percentage survival at 3 years and tree form at 3 and 5.5years. Height and diameter were assessed at 3, 5.5, 6.5 and 9.3 years.

Volume calculations at 5.5 years were made by the Forest Science Centre (FSC) using the young eucalypt growth model.

Tree form was assessed as one of the three classes as follows-Tree form class Description

1 Good form - single, straight stem, suitable as final crop tree, light branching2 Moderate form - Double leader or steeply angled branches3 Poor form eg. multiple stems from base

Results

1. Survival

Adequate survival of all provenances was recorded, apart from Marble Range and Wirrabara on the Werneth site (Table 2). Most seedling deaths occurred within a few months of planting and related to the desiccation of young seedlings during the dry summer following planting. This is despite the seedlings receiving supplementary watering over the first summer. Planting had been delayed until November so that the seedlings would be of adequate size to be released from the nursery. This late planting would have compounded the effects of the dry conditions post planting. Since planting, the area has experienced an extended period of lower than average rainfall.

The Lismore seedlings were grown at a different nursery and their better survival may relate to them being taller and with better root development at the time of planting. All seedlings were grown in individual 15cm deep forestry tubes.

Table 2. Percentage survival for Eucalyptus cladocaylx provenances at the Werneth and Shelford sites at 3 years.

Provenance

Trial SiteWerneth Shelford

Survival (%)Flinders Chase 90.4 92.8Lismore 99.2 93.6Marble Range 76.8 88.8Wilmington 88.0 91.2Wirrabara 74.4 84.8Wanilla 86.4 Not planted

2. Results for the assessment at 5.5 years

A. Tree Form

Lismore seed collection had the best natural form with 12% of the trees, on both sites, recorded as Form Class 1 (Figure 1) at 5.5 years. The form of the Wilmington and Wirrabara provenances on the Werneth site was similar to that of the Lismore collection but was poorer at the Shelford site. The form of the Flinders Chase provenance was disappointing with only 2% of trees being classified as Form Class 1. Many of the Flinders Chase trees had poor stem form and heavy branching. The Wanilla and Marble Range provenances had major form problems. Many of the Marble Range trees took on an incorrigible multi-stem form and were culled at first thinning.

B. Growth Rate

Lismore and Flinders Chase recorded better height growth than the other provenances at 5.5 years (Table 3). Flinders Chase was taller than Lismore on the Shelford site. Lismore recorded greater diameter growth than the other provenances on both sites. Lismore recorded greater volume per hectare than the other provenances. Similar patterns were noted for the volume of the dominant 200 trees per hectare.

Table 3. Summary of provenance survival, height, diameter and volume data at 5.5 years for each site.

Site Provenance%

SurvivalMean height

(m)

Height dom.200(m)

Mean dbh(cm)

Basal area

(m2/ha)

Basal area

dom. 200(m2/ha)

Total volume

/ha(m3/ha)

Volumedom.200

(m3/ha)Shelford Marble Range 87 3.4 3.3 3.2 1.0 0.3 2.4 0.8Shelford Wirrabara 84 4.6 5.2 5.8 2.6 1.0 5.9 2.4Shelford Wanilla Not planted * * * * * * *Shelford Wilmington 92 4.7 5.1 6.1 3.3 1.1 7.3 2.4Shelford Flinders Chase 93 5.2 5.6 6.1 3.3 1.0 8.0 2.6Shelford Lismore seed 94 4.8 5.2 6.6 3.8 1.1 8.5 2.5

Werneth Marble Range 77 4.0 4.1 5.0 1.8 0.7 3.8 1.4Werneth Wirrabara 74 4.6 5.3 6.2 3.0 1.2 7.2 3.0Werneth Wanilla 86 4.5 4.9 6.6 3.5 1.1 7.5 2.5Werneth Wilmington 88 4.9 5.5 6.7 3.9 1.3 9.0 3.2Werneth Flinders Chase 90 5.6 6.1 7.3 4.5 1.5 11.4 3.8Werneth Lismore seed 99 5.6 5.9 8.3 6.1 1.6 15.1 4.0

sig site 0.049 <001 <001 <001 <001 <001 <001Provenance <001 <001 <001 <001 <001 <001 <001site.provenance 0.185 0.106 0.271 0.050 0.400 0.012 0.190

lsd site 10.50 0.41 0.47 0.96 0.25 2.64 0.68provenance 7.42 0.29 0.33 0.68 0.18 1.67 0.48site.provenance 4.29 0.17 0.19 0.39 0.10 0.97 0.28

Figure 1: Percentage of trees in Form Class 1 at 5.5 years

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3. Results for the assessment at 9.3 years

At the assessment at 9.3 years, Flinders Chase was the fastest growing provenance. It had significantly better diameter growth (P < 0.001) than the other provenances apart from Lismore at the Werneth site. However, while Flinders Chase displayed more vigorous growth rates this was countered by its poor stem form and heavy branching. Differences in growth rates between Lismore, Wirrabara and Wilmington had evened out by this stage especially at the Shelford site (Table 4, Fig 2 and Fig 3).

Lismore plots were noticeably more even in growth than that of the other provenance plots. Wilmington and Wirrabara both from the southern Flinders Ranges area showed similar growth rates and form characteristics.

The Wanilla and Marble Range provenances were markedly inferior in terms of growth rate and form. The diameter of Marble Range was significantly poorer on both sites.

BA and volume calculations were not made for the later measurements as the trials had by then been thinned.

Table 4. Summary of provenance diameter and height data at 9.3 years for each site.

Provenance Werneth ShelfordDBH (cm)

Dom ht (m)

DBH (cm)

Dom ht (m)

Flinders Chase 13.2 10.2 10.8 8.7Lismore 12.1 9.1 10.1 7.7Wilmington 11.4 8.7 10.7 7.9Wirrabara 10.7 8.6 10.2 7.7Wanilla 10.6 6.8Marble Range 9.4 6.0 6.9 4.7

F pr. <0.001 <0.001s.e.d. 0.55 0.42l.s.d. 1.16 0.88

Figure 2: Sugar gum provenance trial assessment at 9.3 years, Werneth

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Figure 3: Sugar gum provenance trial assessment at 9.3 years, Shelford

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The ranking of the different provenances changed over time (Figures 4 and 5). This can be attributed to growth rate differences between the provenances but also to selective removal of poorer trees at thinning.

The provenances were ranked similarly on both sites although the differences between the provenances were not as apparent on the Shelford site (excluding Marble Range).

The Werneth site recorded consistently better growth rates for all provenances. This could be attributed to slightly higher rainfall, marginally better site preparation and lighter soils.

Figure 4: Mean diameter of sugar gum provenances over time - Werneth

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Figure 5: Mean diameter of sugar gum provenances over time - Shelford

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Discussion and conclusions

The rankings obtained were similar to those reported in a study of the early growth of provenance trials in six locations in South Australia (Bulman, et al, 2000). In this study, Flinders Chase was the fastest growing provenance on all six sites, when measured at 5 years. Wirrabara was superior to Wilmington and Wanilla was markedly inferior. Wirrabara was found to have better stem form than Flinders Chase. The Flinders Chase and Wanilla CSIRO seedlots used were the same as those planted at the Werneth and Shelford trials.

While the Flinders Chase provenance displayed more vigorous growth rates, this is countered by its poor form which precludes it from being suitable for farm forestry planting.

The original collection of seed for the Lismore timberbelts is most likely from the Wirrabara area. Historical records indicate that from 1878 onwards the South Australian Woods and Forests Department collected and dispatched large quantities of E. cladocalyx seed from trees of good form, growing in the Wirrabara State Forest (D. Bush, pers. comm. 20003). It is known that farmers in the Lismore district were sourcing their seed from the Department for direct sowing of plantations around this time.

The good performance of the Lismore collection in this trial would relate to the original seed used to establish the stands being collected from trees of superior form. This would have been followed by further positive selection, as the trees less well adapted to the Lismore environment haven’t survived or have been culled from stands. Also, neighbourhood inbreeding (the mating between adjacent, related trees that occurs in natural stands) would be reduced in the Lismore stands, which because of the large quantities of seed required for direct seeding, can be presumed to have been established from a bulk seedlot comprising seed from a number of unrelated trees (C. Harwood, pers. comm. 20004).

Improved sugar gum seed is now available from seed orchards and this would be the first choice for farm forestry purposes. Seed from the Kersbrooke SPA has performed very well in recent Australian Low Rainfall Tree Improvement Group trials (D. Bush et al, 2007). However, for general shelterbelt/timberbelt plantings the readily available seed from existing stands in the

3

4

Lismore area may be suitable as long as seed is collected from trees with superior form and growth characteristics.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Peter and Margaret Hirth and Kevin and Jenny Blake who host the provenance trials at Werneth and Shelford respectively and Des Stackpole, then of the former Forest Science Centre and Tim Jackson, DPI, Hamilton for the statistical analysis of the 5.5 year and 9.3 year data respectively .

Reference

Bulman, P., Harwood, C.E. and Fairlamb, J. (2000). Early growth of Eucalyptus cladocalyx in six provenance trials in South Australia. Dept of Primary Industries and Resources, South Australia.

Bush, D et al (2007). Genetic gain trials of eucalypts for low rainfall sites. Australian Low Rainfall Tree Improvement Group. ANZIF Conference.5

5 David Bush (Australian Low Rainfall Tree Improvement Group, CSIRO, Canberra) 22 March 2000. Dr Chris Harwood (Genetics Resources and Tree Breeding, CSIRO, Canberra) 5 April 2000.

Appendix 2. Warrambeen Species Demonstration TrialsResults from 2002 assessment and later observations at May 2008

Sue Harris,

Department of Primary Industries,

Colac

Background

The Warrambeen Farm Forestry Species Demonstration Site is part of a network of sites established across the Corangamite Landcare Region between 1994 and 1996. The sites trial a range of species and provenances, demonstrate various farm forestry options and provide a focus for field days. The trials were established by the Corangamite Farm Forestry Project, an initiative under the National Forest Program funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry-Australia.

Sugar gum is one of the few timber producing species to be widely planted and proved to be successful on the low rainfall basalt plains of western Victoria. One aim of the trial is to investigate other species potentially suitable for these areas.

Methods

Trial site

A one hectare farm forestry species trial was planted at the Warrambeen Landcare Demonstration Farm, near Rokewood in spring 1994 and 1995.

‘Warrambeen’, a merino property owned by Ian and Trish Taylor is located approximately 13km east of Rokewood on the basalt plains of Western Victoria.

Historically, the mean annual rainfall is 600mm but has been much lower for the life of the trial. Soils are a basalt derived clay loam with surface rocks.

Trial Establishment

Sixteen species of a range of provenances were planted as listed in Table 1. Rows were 3.5m apart with trees spaced 2.2m along the rows. Most of the species were planted in blocks of eight by eight trees (64 trees per block).

Site preparation prior to planting involved ripping in autumn into barley stubble. The site was sprayed in July with a pre-planting herbicide application of roundup (2L/ha) and MCPA500 (1L/ha). The bulk of the site was planted in spring 1994, with the remainder planted in spring 1995. All seedlings were guarded. Early survival rates were good especially considering the dry conditions leading up to and following planting. Follow up chemical control of thistles and phalaris was carried out in autumn 1995.

Trial managementIn the early years, form pruning was carried out to remove obvious double leaders. Most species blocks received a first lift pruning and cull thinning in November 2001, with further lift pruning and thinning in May 2004 and April 2008. Stocking is currently less than 600 trees/ha.

Measurement

Species performance was assessed in January 2000 and May 2002, with diameter at breast height and height being measured. Results for the 1994 and 1995 plantings at 7.5 and 6.5 years respectively are given in Figure 2, 4 and 5. An assessment of form was made at the May 2002 assessment. Figure 3 indicates the proportion of trees of the 1994 planting in form class 1 defined as trees with good form having a single, straight, vertical stem.

Table 1. Species and provenances trialled.

Species Common name Provenance CSIRO seedlot number

Year planted

Acacia mearnsiiBlack wattle Anglesea* 1994

Acacia melanoxylon Blackwood Carlisle* 1994Allocasuarina verticillata Drooping sheoak Portarlington

Peterborough19941994

Casuarina cunninghamiana River sheoak Urriarra SF, ACT*Augathella, Qld

17903 19941994

Casuarina glauca Swamp sheoak Singleton, NSW 16362 1994Corymbia maculata“““Corymbia citriodora ssp.variegata

Spotted gum Bodalla, NSWEwingar, SF NSWBatemans BayNSW*“Pine Lake”HorshamWarwick, Qld

191021689916049

16360

19951994199419941995

Cupressus macrocarpa Monterey cypress Longwood, New Zealand, PVI

1994

Eucalyptus astringens Brown mallet Kundip, WA 17686 1994Eucalyptus camaldulensis River red gum Barmah SF* 1994Eucalyptus cladocalyx Sugar gum You Yangs (CNR 800)

Mt Remarkable NP, southern Flinders Ra, SAWilmington, SA* 15268

19941995

1994Eucalyptus microcarpa Grey box Benalla*

Bendigo*19941995

Eucalyptus saligna Sydney blue gum Gibralter Range, NSW 18362 1995Eucalyptus sideroxylon Red iron bark Kilawarra SF, Wangaratta* 15200 1994Eucalyptus tricarpa Red iron bark Angahook/Lorne SF

Murrungowar (CNR 601),NE of Orbost

19941994

Eucalyptus viminalis Manna gum Carlisle River, Otway Ranges ‘89

1995

Pinus radiata Radiata pine Victree Forests Pty Ltd CP cuttings

1994

Note: * Provenance block planting replicated twice. CSIRO seedlots refer to the Australian Tree Seed Centre.

Results

A wide range of growth rates and health were recorded between the species and provenances trialed. The three best performing species at age 7.5years in terms of diameter growth and tree health were Pinus radiata (radiata pine), Eucalyptus cladocalyx (sugar gum, Wilmington) and E. sideroxylon (red iron bark, Wangaratta) (Figure 2). E. cladocalyx (Wilmington) and E. cladocalyx (You Yangs) were the tallest species.

Figure 2. Warrambeen Species Trial - 7.5 years

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4.5

4.6

4.9

7.0

7.1

7.2

7.3

7.3

7.3

8.0

8.2

9.0

9.1

9.3

9.8

10.4

11.3

3.3

5.5

5.1

4.8

4.3

4.2

5

5

5.2

5.3

5.4

6.3

5.1

5.2

5.1

6.7

5.9

6.9

5.2

7

6.5

0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0

A. melanoxylon/Carlisle

Allo. verticillata/Peterborough

Allo. verticillata/Portarlington

Corymbia maculata/Horsham

C. cunninghamiana/Urriarra SF ACT 17903

C. cunninghamiana/Augathella QLD

Corymbia maculata/Ewingar SF NSW 16899

E. astringens/Kundip WA 17686

E. microcarpa/Benalla

E. tricarpa/Murungower

E. camaldulensis/Barmah S.F.

Corymbia maculata/Batemans Bay NSW

C. glauca/Singleton NSW 16362

C. macrocarpa/PVI

E. tricarpa/Angahook S.F.

E. cladocalyx/You Yangs

A. mearnsii/Anglesea

E. cladocalyx/Mt Remarkable SA*

E. sideroxylon/Wangaratta

E. cladocalyx/Wilmington SA

P. radiata Victree CP cuttings

Sp

ecie

s/p

roven

an

ce

Mean height (m) and mean diameter (cm)

Mean height

Mean diam

*Note: E.cladocalyx/Mt Remarkable is one year younger

A provenance of E. cladocalyx from Mt Remarkable NP, southern Flinders Range planted in1995 showed particular promise as it recorded a similar height growth to that of the above provenances planted a year earlier.

E. sideroxylon (Wangaratta) at 13 years

E.cladocalyx (Mt Remarkable, SA) at 12 years

Figure 3. Warrambeen Species Trial - 7.5 years Proportion (%) of trees in Form Class 1

0 20 40 60 80 100

A.verticillata/Portarlington

E.microcarpa/Benalla

A. verticillata/Peterborough

A. mearnsii/Anglesea

A. melanoxylon/Carlisle

E. astringens/Kundip WA 17686

E. tricarpa/Angahook S.F.

E. sideroxylon/Wangaratta 15200

E. camaldulensis/Barmah S.F.

C. glauca/Singleton NSW 16362

C. cunninghamiana/Augathella QLD

C. maculata/Horsham

E. cladocalyx/You Yangs

E. tricarpa/Murungow er

P. radiata, Victree CP cuttings

Cupressus macrocarpa/PVI

C. maculata/Batemans Bay NSW 16049

E. cladocalyx/Wilmington SA 15268

C. maculata/Ew ingar SF NSW 16899

C. cunninghamiana/Urriarra ACT 17903

Sp

ecie

s/p

roven

an

ce

Percentage of trees

Figure 4. Warrembeen Species Trial - Second planting at 6.5 years

2.8

4.7

6.0

6.5

7.6

9.3

3.5

5.1

5.6

5.2

5.3

6.9

0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0

E. microcarpa/Bendigo

C. maculata/Bodalla NSW

E. viminalis/Carlisle

C. maculata/Warwick QLD

E. saligna/Gibralter Range NSW

E.cladocalyx/Mt Remarkable,SA

Sp

ecie

s/p

rove

nan

ce

Mean height (m) and mean diameter(cm)

Mean Height

Mean Diam

The species with the noticeably poorest growth and form was Acacia melanoxylon (blackwood). At 7 years, Acacia melanoxylon had a stunted, unthrifty appearance, with yellowed foliage, growing tips susceptible to aphid attack and evidence of borers. By 10 years most of the A. melanoxylon had died having succumbed to moisture stress and the exposed, windy nature of the site. A. melanoxylon was not expected to do well on this site and it was included to provide a demonstration of the effects of planting a species outside its preferred rainfall zone.

Acacia mearnsii (black wattle) was one of the fastest growing species at the age 5 years assessment but had poor form due to heavy side branching. By 7.5 years, it had been overtaken by a number of other species. Its’ health had deteriorated and excessive gum exudation was noted. By 10 years, many plants had died.

E. saligna (Sydney blue gum) was another species to succumb to low rainfall despite early promise of good growth.

The Bateman’s Bay, NSW provenance of Corymbia maculata (spotted gum) recorded good diameter and height growth and good form. Light, easy to prune stem branching was noted for C. maculata. Losses of C. maculata to frost were recorded in the early years. There was wide variability in the performance of different C.maculata and C.citriodora ssp variegata provenances. For all species, testing of a wide range of provenances is required before conclusions can be drawn as to which are most suitable for a particular site.

Of the three different species of sheoak trialed, Casuarina glauca (swamp sheoak) has grown fastest on the site so far. Casuarina cunninghamiana (river sheoak) from Urriarra SF ACT had better form, with all trees assessed as form class 1 (Figure 3). While similar in height, Allocasuarina verticillata recorded very poor form.

At age 7.5 years, over 20% of the Cupressus macrocarpa (Monterey cypress) had canker disease to various degrees. Diseased plants were removed from the site. Individuals continue to be infected and many have died indicating that this species is not suitable for this site.

Many of the Eucalptus astringens (brown mallet) plants took on a “mallee” appearance with multiple stems from the base and didn’t respond well to attempts at corrective form pruning. However, E. astringens trees were extremely healthy and clearly well suited to this site. While its form precludes it from being suitable to farm forestry purposes, it is still of value for windbreak and general revegetation plantings on this and similar sites.

Eucalytpus camaldulensis (red gum) had reasonable form considering that it generally has very poor form in woodlot situations. Experience indicates a high culling ratio for E. camaldulensis with often only 1 tree in every 9-16 having sufficient stem straightness to be suitable for timber production (Bird, P.R. et al, 1996). The Barmah provenance from the Murray River northwest of Echuca was trialled on this site as it has a reputation for very good form. It was recognised, however, that the soil moisture levels were less than ideal for this provenance and the initial intention was to irrigate the trees.

E. camaldulensis (Barmah SF) at 13 years

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Ian and Trish Taylor who host the demonstration site.

ReferencesBird, P.R., Jowett, D.W., Kellas, J.D. and Kearney, G.A. 1996 Farm Forestry Clearwood Production – A Manual for South East Australia. Agricultural Victoria Technical Report Series.

Appendix 3. Species Demonstration Trial – Boorcan

Landholder: Brad and Marg GilmourFile no.: Colac 04/94/0058Property location: Cobden-Terang Rd, Boorcan,

15 km west of Camperdown.Rainfall: 900mm/yearLand use: Beef cattle, fine wool merinosArea: 4.5 haSpacing: 3m x2.5m, Initial stocking 1330 trees/haPlanted: Spring 1994Layout: Species in single or double rows of 100 trees per row, with four replications across the siteSoil type: clay loam, prone to winter water loggingSpecies: 18 species and 30 provenances

Species ProvenanceA. melanoxylon Mt Sabine, Otways

Carlisle, Otways A. mearnsii NaringalCasuarina cunninghamiana Urriarra SF, ACT (CSIRO 17903)

Katherine, NT Augathella, Qld“Lanark”, Hamilton, PVI

Corymbia maculata Ewingar S.F. NSW (CSIRO 16899) E. bosistoana Lake TyersE. benthamii Kedumba, NSW (CSIRO 18787)E. cypellocarpa Charlies Creek, OtwaysE.camaldulensis Barmah CNR 500

Barmah Vicflora E. cypellocarpa Charlies Ck, Otways E. globulus ssp globulus King Is

Jeeralang Otways

E. grandis Shepparton plantation E. microcarpa BenallaE. nitens Trentham collection

Mt Erica E. saligna Coffs Harbour, NSW

Wild cattle Ck SF, NSW * Yadbora (CSIRO 16629)

E. sideroxylon Murungower (CNR 601)E. viminalis Charlies Ck, Otways

Gellibrand, Otways Cupressus macrocarpa New Zealand (PVI, Hamilton)Pinus radiata Victree control pollinated cuttings Robinia pseudoacacia (Black Locust) Hungary

Management:

A sample of advanced E.nitens and E.globulus rows were thinned and pruned in 1998 at 4 years.Most of the site was thinned and pruned in 2002 (8 years). A second thinning in 2006 reduced the stocking to around 650 st/ha. Actual stocking would be less than this as the red gum rows, which had performed very poorly, were removed for access for the thinning operation.

Assessment:The trial was assessed at 5.4 years. Diameter at breast height and height of all trees was measured within a 30% sample band across the length of the site. Each tree was rated for its form on a scale of 1 to 4 with Form Class 1 indicating a tree of good stem form and branch characteristics with potential to be a final ‘crop’ tree.Survival was also calculated.

Results and discussion:

Survival was very high with the majority of species recording rates of greater than 95% at 5 years. Black locust had the poorest survival rate of 85%. Corymbia maculata had a survival rate of 87% with seedlings adversely affected by frost in the first two seasons.

Figure 1: Mean Height and DBH of all species (provenances combined) at Boorcan Trial at 5.4 years

2.6 2.94.8 5.2 5.7 5.9

7.6 8.1 8.6 8.8 9.3 9.410.3

11.2 11.5 12.2

15.6

12.9

3.7 3.05.0 4.0 5.1 5.0

7.1 6.3 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.9 6.7 7.2 8.2 9.4 10.2 10.5

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

Black L

ocust

E. micr

ocarpa

C. cun

ningh

amiana

E. camald

ulensis

A. mela

noxy

lon

E.side

roxy

lon

A. mea

rnsii

C. macu

lata

E. bos

istoa

na

E. ben

thamii

E. vim

inalis

E. gran

dis

E. cyp

elloc

arpa

E. salig

na

P. radia

ta

E. nite

ns

E. nite

ns Tren

tham

E. glob

ulus

Species

Mea

n H

eigh

t (m

) an

d D

iam

eter

(cm

)

Mean DBH

Mean height

The E. nitens seed collection from Trentham recorded the best diameter growth at 5.4 years (Figure 1). However by eight years, many of the E.nitens had taken on an unthrifty appearance due to moisture stress. This could have been avoided if the entire site was thinned early before competition for moisture took affect. However, thinning was delayed until 8 years for some plots in an attempt to achieve a commercial thinning. For some species, such as E. nitens, this had an adverse affect on health and subsequent growth.

E. globulus was a more consistent performer in terms of health and diameter and height growth compared to E. nitens and is a better long-term proposition for this site.

P. radiata was a healthy, fast growing species. It had good form with 77% of trees recorded as form class one. E.saligna also recorded good growth rate but it had very heavy branching making it difficult to manage for sawlogs.

E.camaldulensis was expected to do quite well on this site as it is a local species that occurs along the adjacent Mt Emu Creek. However, its poor form (only 7% in Form class 1) and slow

growth rate lead to most of the E.camaldulensis rows being removed to provide access during the thinning operation at 8 years. Its performance was very poor in comparison to its growth on the low rainfall basalt plains species trial at Warrambeen.

Blackwood, another local species, was also disappointing. A year after planting many of the trees were infected with aphids indicating that the trees were under stress.

While the growth rate of Casuarina cunninghamiana was very slow, its form, particularly for the Urriarra S.F. provenance was good with 80 % of trees of form class 1. This provenance exhibited very light easy to prune side branching. “Lanark”, Hamilton seedlot was the fastest growing.

Black locust was a very slow growing species. Additionally, it was prone to suckering making it very difficult to manage in a plantation situation.

Cupressus macrocarpa was the worst performing species on site. It was not measured during the assessment as most had been removed as culls. The remaining tree were only 5m tall at the time of assessment. The form was very poor with heavy and very long side branches and many trees had multi-leaders. Many of the trees toppled over. Canker disease was also present from an early age. Interestingly, tree form was much worse than where it had been planted on low rainfall sites such as Warrambeen species trials.

Figure 2: E.nitens and E.globulus ssp. globulus - thinned and unthinnedBoocan trial at 5.4 years

11.713

15.6

12.311.5 12

14.9 15 14.7

9.4 8.910.2 9.9 10.4 10.7 10.5

11.1 11.3

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

E.nite

ns/Mt e

rica

E.nite

ns/Mt E

rica

- thin

ned

E.nite

ns/Tre

ntha

m see

dlot

E.globu

lus/O

tway

s

E.globu

lus/K

ing Is

E.globu

lus/Je

erala

ng

E.globu

lus/O

tway

s - th

inned

E.globu

lus/K

ing Is

- th

inned

E.globu

lus/Je

erala

ng -

thinn

ed

Species

Mea

n H

eig

ht

(m)

and

DB

H (

cm)

Diam

Height

Generally E.globulus performed better than E.nitens especially in terms of diameter growth. However the E.nitens seed collection from Trentham recorded the largest diameter at 5.4 years. The thinned plots recorded greater diameter growth than the unthinned plots which would relate to smaller diameter trees being removed during thinning and also reduced competition in the thinned plots. There was little difference between the three E.globulus provenances.

Form of E.nitens and E.globulus ssp globulusBoorcan Trial at 5.4 years

0

20

40

60

80

100

E.nite

ns/M

t Eric

a/un

thinne

d

E.nite

ns/M

t Eric

a/Thi

nned

E.nite

ns/T

renth

am/u

nthin

ned

E.globu

lus/O

tway

s/un

thinne

d

E.globu

lus/King

Is/u

nthin

ned

E.globu

lus/Je

eralang

/unt

hinn

ed

E.globu

lus/O

tway

s/Thi

nned

E.globu

lus/King

Is/Thi

nned

E.globu

lus/Je

eralang

/Thinn

ed

Species/provenance/thinning status

Pe

rce

nta

ge

(%

)

% in Form Class 1

For the unthinned plots, E. globulus, King Island and E. nitens, Trentham had the highest proportion of trees in Form Class 1 indicating that they had the best natural form. E. globulus, Otways had the worst natural form.

However, following thinning to remove the poorer trees, all the provenances recorded a high proportion of trees in Form Class 1. Thinning of this stand has provided a very good example of the benefits of silviculture to improve the potential of the stand to produce high quality sawlogs.

Conclusion:Traditional plantation species (E. globulus, E.nitens and P.radiata) have performed best on this site. Thinning on-schedule of these eucalypts would have optimised their growth rates.

Brad Gilmour with E. globulus in 2005