Effects of Light Intensities on Growth Performance, Biomass Allocation and

Growth performance, biomass allocation and chlorophyll content of Afzelia xylocarpa Craib, Anisoptera costata Korthals, Dalbergia cochinchinensis Pierre, Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb.& G.Don and Hopea odorata Roxb. seedlings were compared under different light intensities (100%, 50-70% and 30-50%) in Lao PDR. Results showed that all species had survival rate above 94% under all light intensity treatments. Root collar diameter growth (RCD) varied signifi cantly among the fi ve species (F=10.91, P=0.0018). Afzelia xylocarpa had signifi cantly higher RCD than other species while A. costata and D. cochinchinensis showed higher RCD under higher light intensity. Height was also affected signifi cantly by light intensities among the species tested (F=4.85, P=0.0223). A. xylocarpa showed better height growth at lower light intensity. The number of leaves showed signifi cant differences among species (F=9.191, P=0.004) but was not signifi cantly different among light intensities (p Key words: biomass, chlorophyll content, growth, light intensity, tropical deciduous seedlings