EVALUATION OF REFORESTATION POTENTIAL OF 83 TREE SPECIES PLANTED ON IMPERATA-CYLINDRICA DOMINATED GRASSLAND - A CASE-STUDY FROM SOUTH KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA

Survival and growth of 83 tree species were tested in three separate s pecies elimination trials on Imperata cylindrica dominated grassland i n South Kalimantan, Indonesia. The trial layout was randomized complet e blocks design with 6-8 replications of 5-tree line plots. At the age of two years exotics, like several Acacia species (A. mangium, A. cra ssicarpa, A. auriculiformis, A. cincinnata, A. leptocarpa), as well as Gmelina arborea, Paraserianthes falcataria and Cassia siamea had surv ival rates of 90-100%, crown width of 3-6 m and mean height of 5-8 m. Among the most promising local species were Anthocephalus chinensis, P eronema canescens and Parkia roxburghii but their growth was inferior compared to exotics. Eucalypts and pines were not among the highest ra nking trees and cannot be recommended for initial grassland reforestat ion. At the age of 7-8 years the same species were still dominating, b ut increasing mortality of several species was observed. Especially Ac acia crassicarpa and A. cincinnata of the exotics were affected, and i ndigenous Anthocephalus chinensis almost perished. Since fast early gr owth is necessary in first rotation reforestation of grasslands, fast growing exotic species provide a reliable basis for further activities . Final performance of reforestation species has to be confirmed in st and-level experiments and pilot plantations. Intensive work on integra ting local tree species in reforestation of grasslands in the long run is recommended.