SITE SPP MATCHING-SILVICULTURE III

ICFR Bulletin 04/2005

A site evaluation for site: species matching in the summer rainfall regions of southern Africa

Colin W Smith1, Robin A W Gardner1, Robert N Pallett2, Tammy Swain1, Marius du Plessis3 and Richard P Kunz1

1

Institute for Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR)
P O Box 100281
Scottsville, 3209
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Telephone : [phone]
Fax : + 27 33 386 8905 www.icfrnet.unp.ac.za 2

Sappi Forests Research
P O Box 473
Howick, 3290
South Africa

3

Mondi Business Paper
P O Box 31024
Merebank, 4052

All ICFR Bulletins have been peer-reviewed.
The recommendations contained in the ICFR Bulletin Series are based on the results of research conducted at the ICFR and reflect our current understanding of the complex inter-relationships involved. The ICFR reserves the right to subsequently modify recommendations in the light of new evidence from ongoing research and no guarantees are provided, either explicitly or by implication. The ICFR must be acknowledged whenever information contained in this document is reproduced or used in any form. © ICFR 2005
ICFR Bulletin Series
© ICFR 2005

No. 04/2005

Page 1

Summary

This document summarises the optimum growth criteria of principal commercial forest tree species grown in South Africa and relates this information to a forest site classification based on forest economic zone, climate and altitude. Optimum growth criteria are described in terms of mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP). In order to relate optimum growth criteria to altitude, the relationship between altitude range and MAT class is defined for 11 forest economic zones in the summer rainfall regions of South Africa. It is envisaged that expressing optimum growth criteria in terms of a forest site classification will be of major benefit to foresters, forest planners, managers, tree farmers, researchers and students.

Page 2

No. 04/2005

ICFR

References: Donkin, M.J. 1993. Classification of forest land at a strategic level for forestry research. ICFR Bulletin Series, 16/93 DWAF (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry). 2003. Report on commercial timber resources and primary roundwood processing in South Africa FAO, 1979. Eucalypts for planting. FAO Forestry Series No 11, Rome, 677pp. Geological Survey. 1978 – 1992. Geology of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. 1:250 000 scale geological map series (14 maps) Grey, D.C. 1983. Forest soils and site requirements of exotic tree species. In: (Eds) Odendaal, P.B. et al.), South African Forestry Handbook, South African Institute of Forestry, Pretoria, South Herbert, M.A. 1992. Nutrition of Eucalypts in South Africa. ICFR Bulletin Series 02/93. Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, Pietermaritzburg. Herbert, M.A. 1993. Site requirements of exotic hardwood species. ICFR Bulletin Series 02/93. Herbert, M.A. 2000. Site requirements and species matching: Eucalypt and Wattle Species. In: (Ed.) Owen, D.L ICFR. 1992. Site-species trials summary. ICFR Annual Report 1992. Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, Pietermaritzburg Lynch, S. 2003. Development of a raster database of annual, monthly and daily rainfall for southern Africa Morris, A.R. and Pallett, R.N. 2000. Site requirements and species matching: Pines. In: (Ed.) Owen, D.L Pallett, R.N. 1991. Forest land types of the Transvaal region. Sappi Forests (Pty) Ltd. Schönau, A.P.G. and Schulze, R.E. 1984. Climate and altitudinal criteria for commercial afforestation with special reference to Natal Schönau, A.P.G. and Grey, D.C. 1987. Site requirements of exotic tree species. In: (Ed.) van der Sijde, H.A Schulze, R.E. 1983. Agrohydrology and climatology of Natal. Water Research Commission, Pretoria. Schutz, C.J. 1994. Site requirements for pine species. In: (Ed.) van der Sijde, H.A. South African Institute of Forestry, Pretoria, South Africa Schulze, R.E. 1997. South African Atlas of Agrohydrology and Climatology. Water Research Commission, Pretoria, South Africa Sherry, S.P. 1947. The silviculture of black wattle. Bulletin 31, Department of Forestry, Pretoria. Smith, J.M.B. 1994. Crop, pasture and timber yield index. Cedara Report N/A/94/4. Natal Agricultural Research Institute, Cedara, South Africa Smith, J.M.B. 1997. Crop, pasture and timber yield estimates for KwaZulu-Natal. Cedara Report N/A/97/9 Smith, C.W., Pallett, R.N., Kunz, R.P. and Gardner, R.A.W. 2005. A strategic forestry site classification for the summer rainfall region of southern Africa based on climate, geology and soils Swain, T.L., Gardner, R.A.W. and Chiappero, C.C. 2000. Final report on ICFR Eucalyptus smithii trials in the summer rainfall region of South Africa Swain, T.L. and Gardner, R.A.W. 2003. A summary of cold tolerant eucalypt species (CTEs) grown in South Africa