Establishment - Site and species selection
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Planning a farm forestry plantation on your property should begin at least 12 months before planting. Commercial Forestry is a change of land use that requires planning approval by your local council. Thought must be given to firebreaks, setbacks from powerlines and boundary fences, and accessibility by log trucks and machinery to the plantation. For more information relating to plantation planning refer to the Department for Planning and Local Government website for Development Application requirements.
It is important to select the most appropriate species for the proposed site to ensure the best survival and growth rate of the trees. Productivity will vary with soil type, soil depth, rainfall, and management practices. Table 1 contains a list of key farm forestry tree species for South Australia noting details on site suitability and potential products.
The density at which trees are planted influences the volume of wood produced, the size of branches and the rotation length (time between planting and final harvest). Vehicle access between planting lines for weed control and pruning works also needs to be considered. Eucalypts are generally planted at a stocking of 1000 trees/ha: 4 m between rows and 2.5 m between trees, while pines are generally planted at 1600 trees/ha: 2.5 m between rows and 2.5 m between trees. Sites with an annual rainfall below 600mm are best established at lower stockings.
| Species | Common Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Pinus radiata | Monterey pine | Suitable for 600mm+ annual rainfall. Prefers sandy loam over clay. Use: construction, posts, pulp and furniture. |
| Eucalyptus globulus | Tasmanian blue gum | Suitable for 700mm+ annual rainfall. Prefers heavy loam clay but grows on a range of sites. Uses: paper pulp and firewood. |
| Eucalyptus nitens | Shining gum | Suitable for 700mm+ annual rainfall. Prefers clay loam. Alternative species to E. globulus. Uses: paper pulp and flooring and furniture. |
| Corymbia maculata | Spotted Gum | Suitable for 550mm+ annual rainfall. Prefers sandy clay. Frost sensitive in early years. Use: flooring, furniture and posts. |
| Eucalyptus saligna | Sydney Blue Gum | Suitable for 550mm+ annual rainfall. Prefers sandy loam. Has attractive pink heartwood. Use: flooring and furniture. |
| Eucalyptus cladocalyx | Sugar Gum | Suitable for 450mm+ annual rainfall. Prefers sandy clay loam with moderate drainage. Frost sensitive. Use: firewood, furniture, flooring and posts. |
| Eucalyptus occidentalis | Flat Top Yate | Suitable for 350mm+ annual rainfall. Prefers sandy clay flats but tolerant of poor drainage, drought and salt. Use: firewood, construction and posts. |
| Pinus brutia | Brutian Pine | Suitable for 450mm+ annual rainfall, alkaline or heavy soils. Use: sawlog. |
| Pinus pinaster | Maritime Pine | Suitable for 450mm+ annual rainfall, deep sands. Use: sawlog. |
| Acacia species | Wattle | Suitable for 500mm+ annual rainfall. Tolerant of poor drainage, will grow on most sites but prefers sandy clay loams Use: furniture and firewood. |
| Casuarina & Allocasuarina species | Sheoak | Suitable for 500mm+ annual rainfall. Tolerant of saline and poorly drained sites. Use: furniture and firewood. |
| Cupressus species | Cypress | Suitable for 600mm+ annual rainfall. Grows on a range of sites. Use: specialty furniture timber. |
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- Page URL: http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/forestry/farm_forestry/regional_information/growing_trees_on_kangaroo_island/establishment
- Page Last Modified: November 8, 2011