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Forestry Fact Sheet Number 4

Introduction

Eucalyptus globulus was recognised as the eucalypt with the most potential in original species trials dating from the 1880’s. However, it fell out of favour over the years even though some plantations have been grown through to about age 60. A new era began in 1979 with a trial set up by CSIRO (now Ensis) to test a variety of different species and provenances near Mt Gambier. Overall, 36 species were trailed as were numerous provenances.

 

The best performers were found to be:

 

E. globulus

E. nitens

E. regnans

E. obliqua

E. fastigata

E. sieberi

E. triflora

E. oreades

E. fraxinoides

E. botryoides

E. delegatensis

 

A second CSIRO trial was established using the results of the first to establish 49 tree plots of the 6 species which were considered most likely to be grown and used:

 

E. globulus

E. regnans

E. nitens

E. sieberi

E. obliqua

E. viminalis

 

The average Mean Annual Increment (MAI) at age seven for all species was approximately 25 m3 /ha/yr.

 

E. globulus Plantation Expansion

In 1988 the National Afforestation Program set up a number of eucalypt trials through ForestrySA. Many provenances of E. globulus and E. nitens were trailed across a range of sites. E. globulus performed the best across all sites and the best performing provenances were; Otways, Pelverata, Jeeralang, King Island and Flinders Island.

 

In 1991 the first commercial plantations of E. globulus were planted for the Kimberly Clark Australia (KCA) Millicent Mill. By 1998 approximately 4500 hectares had been planted. This project provided a marketing agreement for private growers at planting so they had a guaranteed market for their timber. This project has now ended with KCA sourcing their short fibre pulp from overseas.

 

In 1997, further commercial E. globulus programs began.

 

Green Triangle Treefarm Project:This is an agreement between ForestrySA, Nippon Paper Industries and Mitsui Plantation Development. It provided a guaranteed export market for growers within a 150km radius of Portland. This project had an initial target of 1000 ha/yr.

 

GPFL Hamilton:An agreement between Treecorp and Oji Paper for the export of woodchips. The agreement is based on a land-leasing arrangement.

 

Timber 2000: A farmer based company which concentrated on the planting of E. globulus with no market guarantee initially. The Timber 2000 group are hoping for sawlog product as well as woodchip.

 

In 1998, numerous prospectus groups by managed investment schemes (MIS) were established, and some 5000 hectares of E. globulus were planted in that year. Most of this product was aimed at the export chip market out of Portland and now some is expected to be processed at the proposed pulp mills at Heywood and Penola.

In 1999, approximately 15,000 hectares of E. globulus was planted in the region. The planting rate rapidly expanded in 2000 with a little over 40,000 hectares being planted. In 2001, a number of factors including changes to tax rulings led to a decline in investor interest in MIS, which saw the area of E. globulus planted drop dramatically. Figures of planting in the Green triangle from 2000 till 2005 are presented in Table 1 below.

 

Table 1.  Approximate area planted in Eucalyptus globulus from 2000 till 2005 in the Green Traiangle Region.

Year	Area planted in South Australia (ha)	Area planted in Victoria (ha)	Total Area planted in the Green Triangle Region (ha)
2000	12,430	30,557	42,987
2001	6,297	19,800	26,097
2002	4,989	9,391	14,380
2003	137	6,163	6,300
2004	3,279	7,994	11,273
2005	3,335	3,154	6,489

 

E. globulus Plantation Management

 

The main growing areas are between Mt Gambier, Hamilton and Portland, and the Wattle Range and Dergholm areas. Growth rates vary greatly within and between sites. They range from a Mean Average Increment (MAI) of 5 m³/ha/yr in low rainfall areas, to 33 m³/ha/yr where rainfall is higher.

 

It has become apparent that soil cultivation and weed control is possibly more critical than with pines. Also, eucalypts are more susceptible to a large range of insects and do not appear to be as drought tolerant.

 

Many chemicals are used for weed control including Roundup, Simazine and Oust. Research is continuing in this area, especially in finding chemicals which can be applied post-planting.

 

For up to date information on plantation areas in the Green Triangle Region and other regions of Australia visit http://www.abareonlineshop.com/PdfFiles/pc13284.pdf

 

For further information contact PIRSA Forestry

 

 

Disclaimer: While this publication may be of assistance to you, the government of South Australia and its officers do not guarantee that it is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purpose. The Government therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence that may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.

 

 

Last Revised January 2007