ENVIRONMENTAL-EFFECTS ON GROWTH AND KRAFT PULP YIELD OF EUCALYPTUS-GLOBULUS AND EUCALYPTUS-NITENS

The volume growth and kraft pulp yield (m/m) of two provenances of eig ht-year-old stands of E. globulus and E. nitens were investigated at f our plantations. The plantations were located at 60, 240, 440 and 650 m along an altitudinal gradient in the Esperance valley, south-eastern Tasmania. A significant decrease in kraft pulp yield between the lowe r- and upper sites was observed for both species though differences wi thin provenances between sites did not exceed 3.4%. There were signifi cant differences in pulp yield between provenances within species: acr oss sites these yields were 55.7 and 51.6% for the better provenances of E. globulus and E. nitens. The better provenance off. nitens was su perior to E. globulus in terms of volume growth except at the 240 m si te which highest minimum temperatures. Given careful matching of prove nance to sire, planting of E. nitens is recommended for maximizing pul pwood production except on frost-free sites at low altitude when the h igher pulp yield and similar volume production of E. globulus favours this species.