%0 Journal Article
%T Intercropping Cedrela odorata with Shrubby Crop Species to Reduce Infestation with Hypsipyla grandella and Improve the Quality of Timber
%A Carola Paul
%A Michael Weber
%J ISRN Forestry
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/637410
%X Cultivation of Cedrela odorata, a valuable tropical hardwood species, is restricted by the mahogany shoot borer (Hypsipyla grandella), whose attacks reduce stem quality in forest plantations. This study investigated whether infestation rates would be reduced and growth performance improved by the intercropping of C. odorata tree seedlings with different crop rotations. The height increment achieved by C. odorata during the first two years was significantly stimulated by the intercropping of maize (Zea mays), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), and cassava (Manihot esculenta). Attacks of H. grandella were also considerably reduced in these treatments, compared to the control plots, while intercropping with beans and rice produced no improvement. The effect was particularly distinct when lateral competition between trees and crops was high. Accordingly stem quality was higher in the treatments featuring tall crops. Trees intercropped with C. cajan performed best in terms of height (276£¿cm£¿ ), survival (100% ¡À0), and quality (81% ¡À13.5 of trees with satisfying stem quality) after two years. We concluded that intercropping of tree seedlings which are susceptible to H. grandella with shrubby multipurpose species can improve both tree growth and timber quality and hence increase the attractiveness of such species for reforestation. 1. Introduction Cedrela odorata L., a member of the family Meliaceae, is valued on international markets for its attractive wood. Native to most of Central America, it is now widespread throughout subtropical and tropical life zones [1¨C3]. Despite its wide native range, individuals are not very common in natural forests and are mostly scattered in mixed semievergreen or semideciduous forests dominated by other species [4]. Due to extensive timber extraction and poor natural regeneration [5], the species is now considered to be endangered in Mesoamerica [6]. However, the demand for the wood, sold under the commercial name ¡°Spanish Cedar,¡± remains high. Similar to other species of the Meliaceae family, such as Swietenia macrophylla King, the wood is both rot and termite resistant, which, along with its light weight (specific gravity of 0.4 [7]), makes it highly suitable for exterior constructions. Due to its high strength, easy workability, and its low and even shrinkage, it is also frequently made into veneer and used for furniture and interior fittings [8, 9]. Additional characteristics¡ªamong others, the medicinal value of the bark¡ªmake it a desirable multipurpose tree species [9]. In spite of the high demand for its wood, however, C.
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.forestry/2013/637410/