The most common tree species grown in Southern Highlands are Pinus patula, P. caribea and P. elliotii, Tectona grandis, Acacia mearnsii and several Eucalyptus spp. The height growth and productivity of these species vary from plantation to plantation.
The height growth for some of selected tree species are:23-34 m for Pinus patula range at 20 years; 18-30 m for Tectona grandis at 17 years and 6-20 m for Eucalyptus spp, at 10 years. The MAI are: 21-35 m3ha-1yr-for Pinus patula range at 20 years; 13-17 m3ha-1yr- for Tectona grandis at 17 years and 3.7-23 m3ha-1yr-1 for Eucalyptus spp, at 10-13 years. The variation in growth and productivity are due to due to various factors such as species/provenance selection, genetic improvement, species-site matching and silvicultural practices.
