Golden Hope Plantation Pvt Ltd: Establishment of an African Mahogany Plantation

Abstract of the presentation of 

Rangika Beddevidana

African mahogany, Khaya senegalensis was introduced to Sri Lanka about 30 years ago and in the past 10 years it has become one of the priority species for timber plantation establishment in the dry zone. Timber is highly valued because of its beautiful figurative grain and its rich reddish mahogany brown colour. It is favored for furniture, high-class joinery, trim and boat building, railroad ties, flooring, turnery and decorative veneer.

The name of the hypothetical company is Golden Hope Plantation Pvt. Ltd and its management objectives are the production of high-value; high-quality timber on sustainable basis to relieve the pressure on our valuable rain forests, practice commercial forestry by earning higher income with inter-cropping.

At harvesting age, trees will be approximately 6 m in length and 50-60 cm in dbh with minimal taper and knots in 25 years, maintain plantation volume productivity, of 15-20 m3/ha/y merchantable volume over bark. Company is also aiming at achieving FSC certification enabling it to reach overseas markets.

A marginal land of 30 ha in the Dry Zone will be selected by considering several factors such as rain fall (1400 mm per annum), terrain (flat), accessibility, value. (low cost), soil condition, availability of natural water bodies and labour availability.

Land Demarcation will be carried out by surveying and establishing boundaries. Plots near the main roads or boundaries of the land will be kept by the company as a security. Main road of 5 m, sub-roads of 4 m will also be demarcated. Land clearing, removing shrubs, clear debris is carried out in late September, holing and planting carried out in early October and November targeting the NE monsoon. 650-700 trees per ha will be planted with a spacing of 3×5 m. Live fire belt will be established using Hana.

Proper maintenance practices will be established including fertilising up to 3 years and the commercial thinnings will be carried out at the ages of 14 and 20 years. Creeper cutting will be carried out from the 1st year while pruning carried out from 4th year before and after the rainy season. Watering is done using drip irrigation up to 3 years, 4 L per day in the dry season. Harvesting will be done using clear felling at the age of 25 years. 

A 6 year old African Mahogany Plantation in Intermediate Zone, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka

Establishment of an African mahogany Plantaiton by Green World Plantation Company

Abstract of the presentation of

Sonali Batuwatte

Khaya (Khaya senagalensis) is one of the most popular species in Sri Lanka. Management objective of the Green World Plantation Company is to optimise the land utilisation by growing commercially viable and environmentally sustainable trees. The company will increase its profits by providing better quality timber in required amounts. Vision is to “Become the Market Leaders in Khaya Wood Production in Sri Lanka” and Mission is “Production of high-value and high-quality timber on sustainable basis to relieve the pressure on our natural forests, practice commercial forestry by bringing in investors to invest in our plantations.”

Khaya senagalensis belongs to the Meliaceae family and it is native to Africa. It reputedly has the best surface finishing of all the African mahogany species. Khaya timber is highly valued because of its beautiful figurative grain and its rich reddish mahogany brown colour. It is a medium-sized tree which can grow up to 15–30 m in height and 1 m in diameter. It has a fast growth rates in dry and intermediate zones, tolerance to poor site quality and resistance to heavy weed competition, harsh conditions and diseases and pests (except borer). It is favored for furniture, high-class joinery, trim and boat building, railroad ties, flooring, turnery and decorative veneer.

For management prescriptions land selection, planting, protection, labour and staff and extraction can be mentioned. Under planting, seeds, land preparation, spacing, fertilising, weeding, watering, thinning, pruning, pests and diseases. A land of 50 ha in the Intermediate Zone in Kurunegala is selected by using & checking soil parameters. Land Demarcation is carried out by surveying and establishing boundaries. Land is divided in to 10 perch blocks in order to attract small scale investors. 800-1100 trees/ha will be planted with a spacing of 3m × 3m. Live fire belt will be established using Hana. Proper maintenance practices will be established including fertilizing up to 4 yrs and after the PCT with a mixture of N:P:K 9:13:9. Three commercial thinning are carried out at the ages of 11, 15 and 20 years. Creeper cutting is carried out from the 1st year while pruning carried out from 4^th year before and after the rainy season. Watering is done using drip irrigation up to 6 years, 4 l/day in the dry season. Harvesting will be done using clear felling at the age of 25 yrs. In its natural range, K. senagalensis can be severely attacked by shoot borers (Hypsiphylla robusta). Such attacks may result in misshapen trees with no timber value. Carbofuran can be used to minimize these attacks.