Understanding and manipulating stress physiology of eucalypt seedlings to improve survival and growth. Eucalyptus globulus and E. nitens are the major species being established to meet the 2020 Vision (Anon 1999) of trebling Australia's plantation estate. Seedling mortality and/or reduced growth after planting, linked to the transition from ideal growing conditions in the nursery to stressful conditions (high drought and browsing risk) at the planting sites, significantly increase the costs of ....Understanding and manipulating stress physiology of eucalypt seedlings to improve survival and growth. Eucalyptus globulus and E. nitens are the major species being established to meet the 2020 Vision (Anon 1999) of trebling Australia's plantation estate. Seedling mortality and/or reduced growth after planting, linked to the transition from ideal growing conditions in the nursery to stressful conditions (high drought and browsing risk) at the planting sites, significantly increase the costs of plantation production. By investigating physiological mechanisms of seedlings and their responses to drought and browsing stress during establishment in the field, methods for the production of seedlings acclimated to drought or browsing stress will be developed. The research outcomes will help maximise the financial return on over $28 M per annum being invested by the 8 project partners in seedling production and planting over 80, 000 ha per year for the next 19 years to meet the requirements of Vision 2020.Read moreRead less
Guiding early silvicultural interventions through predicting canopy and crown dynamics in plantations of sub-tropical eucalypts. This project aims to establish the scientific basis for silvicultural treatments of eucalypt plantations for clear wood production. While eucalypt plantations in north-eastern NSW have dramatically increased in recent times, the knowledge base for the production clear, branch-free wood from the tree species used does not exist. A physiological, mechanistic understandin ....Guiding early silvicultural interventions through predicting canopy and crown dynamics in plantations of sub-tropical eucalypts. This project aims to establish the scientific basis for silvicultural treatments of eucalypt plantations for clear wood production. While eucalypt plantations in north-eastern NSW have dramatically increased in recent times, the knowledge base for the production clear, branch-free wood from the tree species used does not exist. A physiological, mechanistic understanding of crown and canopy dynamics as well as branch shedding will form the scientific foundation for stand manipulations such as pruning and thinning to enhance wood quality. Project outcomes will provide the basis for a stand management simulation model for the most important eucalypt species.Read moreRead less