Establishment of provenance trials of E. deglupta in Keravat, Dami and Gogol

Establishment of provenance trials of E. deglupta in Keravat, Dami and Gogol

The first field-based provenance trials of E. deglupta were established at Keravat, Dami (near Cape Hoskins) and Gogol (near Madang) during the 1970/71 planting season.

Near Keravat at a site close to the Vudal River Wilelo, Keravat, Mingende, Philippines, Sulawesi and Raba Raba provenances were included in four replications of each, except Mingende (2) and Raba Raba (3).40 The nursery layout was in randomized blocks. The field layout was a balanced lattice. Plots were square, comprising 36 trees at 2.5 x 2.5 m spacing, with the inner 16 trees being assessed. Soils were deep, fine textured and generally well-drained volcanic pumice layers and some alluvial material of the same material nearer the river. The site was part of the normal annual planting and was clearfelled and burnt prior to planting. Natural stands of E. deglupta occurred in the area.

At Dami the provenances planted were Wilelo, Keravat, Hagen41, Mingende, Philippines (Caliwan River), Philippines (Milbuk) and Raba Raba. Four replications were established except for Mingende (3) and Raba Raba (3). Design was the same as for Keravat. E. deglupta did not occur at this site previously. Soils were the result of periodic emissions from numerous volcanoes in the area and showed little profile differentiation. Dami experienced a very heavy wet period from November to March with up to 1,000 mm in January. Soil drainage was very poor and waterlogging was experienced during these wet conditions.

At Gogol, only four provenances were raised in the Baku station nursery, Keravat, Hagen, Philippines (Caliwan River) and Philippines (Milbuk). The trial was established in four replications to the same design as for Keravat on a river terrace site adjacent to the Gogol River. Soil was derived from recent fine-grained alluvium and had a heavy clay texture, massive structure and variable drainage. E. deglupta was not found there naturally and the site in Baku Compartment 1 was clearfelled and burnt prior to planting.

Heights of all the trees were measured at the end of the nursery stage and six months after planting. Measures were to be carried out thereafter on a yearly basis.

40 The Keravat, Philippines (Caliwan River and Milbuk) and Raba Raba seedlots were the same as those used in the seedling provenance trial in the CERES phytotron in Canberra. See page 177 In Davidson J 1972 loc. cit, for detailed descriptions. Wilelo was a PNG batch No. 325 collected near Wilelo, New Britain in March 1970, Mingende was a combined seedlot of PNG batches Nos 206, 207, 208 and 209 from natural highlands populations occurring at about 2,500 m elevation, Sulawesi (PNG Batch No. 265, CSIRO batch No. S9313) was from the Larsen/Cameron 1969 collection on the bank of the Tampak River upstream of Tampak Village about 28 km south of Palopo. 41 “Hagen” (PNG batch No. 301, CSIRO batch No. S8861) was a land race originating from Keravat or Warangoi, East New Britain.