Growth of Royal Cedar and Mahogany in the San Pablo natural laboratory URACCAN-Las Minas 2009-2014

Abstract

This research was done in order to evaluate the growth of the species of Real Cedar (Cedrela odorata L) and Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King), established in San Pablo natural laboratory, property of the University of the Autonomous Regions of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua (URACCAN), municipality of Siuna. Some of the findings showed that the Mahogany presents the best growth rates in height and diameter (height: annual average increase (AAI) 0.66; annual current increase (ACI) 0.60; diameter: AAI 0.86, 0.98 ACI. While the Real Cedar presents: heights (AAI 0.40, 0.34 ACI), diameter (AAI 0.66; 0.87 ACI). Together the two species has the following growth rates: Height: (AAI 0.53, 0.47 ACI), diameter (AAI 0.76, 0.93 ACI). According to the affectation results produced by the borer, both species were attacked at different heights and bigger attacks were found on the Mahogany when it reaches over three meters high (70.97% of affectation), while on the Real Cedar is more frequent when it reaches more than two meters high (56.77% affectation). Regarding the quality of the plantation, 5% of the plants are in bad quality; however, 70% are in acceptable quality. Although there is a high affectation by the plague, practices of shaft correction (trimming) are performed to guarantee that the plant continues its growth in the best way possible.