PERFORMANCE OF GREVILLEA-ROBUSTA IN PLANTATIONS AND ON FARMS UNDER VARYING ENVIRONMENTAL-CONDITIONS IN RWANDA

The growth of Greuillea robusta A. Cunn. ex R.Br. in plantations and o n farms was assessed on 67 sites selected at random in the major ecolo gical zones of Rwanda. The following parameters were assessed: diamete r at breast height, tree height, altitude above sea level, annual rain fall and temperature, soil pH, soil type, soil fertility, soil depth, spacing and forest type (plantation or farm). Analyses of variance dem onstrated that fertile soil, intercropping and cultivation between tre es considerably improved growth performance. However, growth was negat ively correlated with altitude, with stands above 2300 m above sea lev el showing poor growth. In Rwanda with proper management, the species can be grown in plantations and on farms for firewood, poles and sawlo gs.