Comparative performance of exotic and indigenous forest species for tropical semievergreen degraded forest land reforestation in Chittagong, Bangladesh

Exotic Acacia arabica, Acacia Auriculiformis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and Pinus caribaea, and indigenous Albizia lebbek, Cassia siamea, Chikrassia Tabularis, and Derris robusta were reforested in tropical semievergreen degraded forest lands to evaluate their capability of survival, growth, and biomass production in energy plantations. Three years after reforestation, significant variations in growth and biomass yield production were observed within each category of forest species. Both exotic and indigenous forest species had shown similar capability in the biomass production. Plant height was found a better predictor of biomass production than diameter at breast height. There have been improvements in soil properties under reforestation. Among the forest species, indigenous Cassia siamea and Derris robusta, and exotic Acacia auriculiformis were found highly adaptable, fast-growing, productive, and site improving, suitable for reforestation of degraded lands. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.