Leaf production versus density for seedlings of Camptotheca acuminata

Key words: 
• silviculture /
• Camptotheca acuminata /
• leaf-producing seedling plantation /
• density effects

Abstract: A leaf-producing plantation of one-year old Camptotheca acuminata seedlings was established at five density levels:(A) 1.0 m×1.0 m, (B) 0.5 m×1.0 m, (C) 0.5 m×0.5 m, (D) 0.3 m×0.5 m, and (E) 0.3 m×0.3 m with three replication, to study the effects of density on seedling height, seedling diameter, leaf yield per unit area, leaf number per seedling, and leaf biomass per seedling. The trial did in 2002. Results of the trial showed that (1) density produced no significant differences for average height growth. Also, (2) with increasing density, seedling diameter, per-seedling leaf area, and per-seedling leaf biomass significantly decreased (P<0.05) (yield of A < B < C < D < E). In addition, (3) as density increased from A to C, leaf yield per unit area increased (P<0.05) (leaf yield of A < B < C), while as density further increased from C to E, leaf yield decreased (leaf yield of C > D > E). Thus, for one-year old seedlings of C. acuminatain this trial, the highest leaf yield per unit area could be expected when density E (0.3 m×0.3 m) is used.