ACIAR Project FST/2004/058 ACIAR Project FST/2004/058 - Realising genetic gains in - Realising genetic gains in

Indonesia and Australia Indonesia and Australia plantations through water plantations through water and nutrient managementand nutrient management

Eko B. Hardiyanto Eko B. Hardiyanto

BackgroundBackground

• Acacia plantations (now more than 700,000 Acacia plantations (now more than 700,000 ha) are already a major contributor to the ha) are already a major contributor to the Indonesian economy and will increasingly Indonesian economy and will increasingly supply wood demand for pulpmill and supply wood demand for pulpmill and furniture industriesfurniture industries

• Outgrower scheme of acacia plantation has Outgrower scheme of acacia plantation has also been developed also been developed

• In Australia an acacia plantation has been In Australia an acacia plantation has been set up with a potential size of 75,000 ha in set up with a potential size of 75,000 ha in Tiwi IslandTiwi Island

• Substantial genetic improvements in Substantial genetic improvements in growth and form of growth and form of Acacia mangiumAcacia mangium have have been achieved through tree breeding. been achieved through tree breeding.

Background (Background (continuedcontinued))• Among the key factors affecting the Among the key factors affecting the

realisation of genetic gain are water and realisation of genetic gain are water and nutrient managementnutrient management

• The project aims to improve the The project aims to improve the profitability and sustainability of acacia profitability and sustainability of acacia plantation in Indonesia and Australia, plantation in Indonesia and Australia, expanding the involvement of and benefits expanding the involvement of and benefits to small-holder farmers.to small-holder farmers.

ObjectivesObjectives

• To quantify the role of site edaphic properties To quantify the role of site edaphic properties and phosphorus in realising gains from and phosphorus in realising gains from deployment of genetic gain across sites, and to deployment of genetic gain across sites, and to develop appropriate management strategies for develop appropriate management strategies for maximising productivity and economic valuemaximising productivity and economic value

• To develop a capacity to predict potential To develop a capacity to predict potential productivity of productivity of AcaciaAcacia mangiummangium in relation to in relation to site factors in Indonesia and Australiasite factors in Indonesia and Australia

• To evaluate economic benefits of improved To evaluate economic benefits of improved management in outgrower schemesmanagement in outgrower schemes

• To develop practical tools to support improved To develop practical tools to support improved management.management.

Project findingsProject findings

• The project was started in September The project was started in September 20062006

• 11 sites ranging from low to high 11 sites ranging from low to high productivity have been identified and are productivity have been identified and are used for establishing experimental plotsused for establishing experimental plots

• Acacia productivity has significant Acacia productivity has significant correlation with soil phosphorus correlation with soil phosphorus (phosphate retention index and total (phosphate retention index and total phosphorus); these will be used for phosphorus); these will be used for development of phosphorus indices of development of phosphorus indices of availabilityavailability

Priorities for further Priorities for further researchresearch

• Continuation of genetic improvement, putting more Continuation of genetic improvement, putting more attention on wood quality, not only focusing on attention on wood quality, not only focusing on growth and formgrowth and form

• Site management and productivity studies to identify Site management and productivity studies to identify impact of management on the long-term productivity impact of management on the long-term productivity of plantationof plantation

• Quantification of key physiological and morphological Quantification of key physiological and morphological traits of improved genetic material as traits of improved genetic material as the basis for the basis for modelling potential and real gains under a number of modelling potential and real gains under a number of climatic and management scenariosclimatic and management scenarios

• Quantification of nitrogen fixation and cycling in Quantification of nitrogen fixation and cycling in Acacia mangiumAcacia mangium plantation, plantation, and the impacts of and the impacts of external factors such as soil phosphorus availability external factors such as soil phosphorus availability on the nitrogen cycling. on the nitrogen cycling.

Priorities for further research Priorities for further research ((continuedcontinued))

• Identification of the possibility of nitrogen Identification of the possibility of nitrogen fixation is a limiting factor for genetically fixation is a limiting factor for genetically improved materialimproved material, which may start to place , which may start to place heavier demands on the nitrogen supply heavier demands on the nitrogen supply capacity of the system capacity of the system

• Development model for nitrogen demand Development model for nitrogen demand and supplyand supply

• Identification and quantification of other Identification and quantification of other potential limiting factors for plantation potential limiting factors for plantation productivity such as availability of potassiumproductivity such as availability of potassium

• Silvicultural and economic studies on sawlog Silvicultural and economic studies on sawlog plantation of acacia.plantation of acacia.