Minquartia guianensis Aubl.: use, ecology and management in forestry and agroforestry

Minquartia guianensis grows in a range of habitats throughout the lowland n eotropics. It was studied in the Peruvian Amazon from where it was widely e xtracted as its durable wood was appreciated in house construction. In natu ral flood plain forests it flowered and fruited almost annually, and abunda nt fruiting was observed in agroforestry trials from 6 years age onwards. I ts natural regeneration occurred mainly under shade, and seedling establish ment and growth in agroforestry and strip planting trials was best under pa rtial shade. Individuals above 10 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) had lo w densities of 1-4 per ha in natural forests, and a height-DBH model showed a height development to 28 m. A diameter growth model fitted to data from natural forests had a peak in the current annual increment at 25 cm DBH wit h 4 mm per year, while the average annual increment culminated at 50 cm DBH with 3 mm per year. The point for optimal volume production was at 70 cm D BH, which was reached in 300 years. In around 11 years dominant total heigh ts of 7 m and 8-9 cm DBH were reached in agroforestry trials on terra firme and in flood plains. The high demand for wood of M. guianensis and depleti on of its natural populations stressed the need to implement adapted manage ment systems in natural forests by enhancing plant density and growth rates , and to plant the species in agroforestry and plantations. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science B.V All rights reserved.