A comparison of agrisilvicultural systems with plantation forestry in the Atlantic Lowlands of Costa Rica

摘要

Survival and growth data (ages 0–5 years) are presented for two timber species (Acacia mangium, Cordia alliodora) planted in monocultures or in association with a sequence of agricultural cropsZea mays, Zingiber officinaleandEugenia stipitata(a fruit shrub) in the tropical humid Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica. Average annual height and diameter growth rates were 3.2 m and 4.0 cm (C. alliodora), 3.5 m and 3.8 cm (A. mangium).C. alliodoraassociated with crops gave the greatest productivity with an average total stem volume increment of 19 m3ha−1yr−1. Root rot ofA. mangium(mainlyRoselliniasp.), leading to tree mortality, was greater in pure plots compared to associated plots.A. mangiumcan not be recommended for similar sites because of this pr