ÉVALUATION DES CARACTÉRISTIQUES DE PRODUCTION DE TECK AVEC ESPACEMENT DE 1 M X 1 M DANS UNE PLANTATION AU NICARAGUA

This investigation was carried out in a for- estry plantation in Central America, near the city of Diriamba in Nicaragua, where 48.9 ha of a 76.5 ha afforested area has been repeatedly planted with teak since 2006 (2006: 7.90 ha; 2007: 13.63 ha; 2008:  11.93  ha;  2009:  12.87  ha; 2010: 21.70 ha). This plantation is unusual because of the unique 1x1 m spacing of the teak trees and the limiting ecologi- cal factors of this arid tropical zone. The aim of the 1x1m spacing was to promote the growth of tall teak stems, inhibit branching to prevent the formation of a wide crown and begin production from the first thinning with teak poles, which are suitable for some types of construc- tion. In 2011, experimental plots were established and the growth parameters (height and circumference) of teaks in the plantation were measured. Additional data were recorded, such as mortality, or twisted and snapped trees. A field meth- odology was designed and the growth results recorded were formatted into tables and charts. Based on the measure- ments made in the experimental plots marked out in the plantation, a statistical assessment of the growth parameters was conducted. Teak seedlings planted in the same years were compared according to provenance in terms of height, circum- ference, yields and mortality. Altogether, 10,955 trees in 143 experimental plots were measured. The stands  were  1  to 5 years of age, the total calculated grow- ing stock was 1,287.89 m3, the mean wood mass per hectare was 17.89 m3, with a mean stand height of 3.03 m and mean DBH of 2.74 cm. Snapped trees amounted to 5.64%, twisted trees to 5.66% and mean mortality was 21.48%.