A Detailed Explanation of the Harm of Eucalyptus, a Plant in the Myrtaceae Family, and Its Planting Method

Eucalyptus is an evergreen tree plant in the Myrtaceae family, reaching 20 m in height, generally growing on sunny plains, hillsides and roadsides; it grows quickly, has strong drought resistance, and its wood has wide uses, but it is banned from planting in many places in China because it has many harms. So, what are the harms of eucalyptus?

I. Introduction to eucalyptus!

1. What else is eucalyptus called?

Eucalyptus is also called gum tree, white diesel tree, mang tree, large-leaf eucalyptus, etc. It is an evergreen tall tree, reaching 20 m in height, with crown shapes such as spire-shaped, multi-branched and weeping; its leaves can be divided into three types: juvenile leaves, intermediate leaves and mature leaves, and its bark is dark brown with irregular oblique fissures.

2. Where is eucalyptus native to?

Eucalyptus is native to the Australian continent; in China it is mainly cultivated in the south and southwest, such as Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. Its taproot is deep and its wind resistance is strong; whether coastal or inland, plains or high mountains, it can grow as long as the annual rainfall in the area is 250-4000 mm.

II. What are the harms of eucalyptus?

Harm 1: It can cause soil fertility to decline or even become exhausted.

Eucalyptus has an especially developed root system and a huge demand for soil fertilizer and nutrients; the fertilizer in the land is absorbed in large amounts, causing soil fertility to decline or even become exhausted, and the original vegetation is severely damaged because it cannot get enough fertilizer and nutrients, so replanting other plants simply cannot survive. In fact, research by scientists at home and abroad has found that eucalyptus absorbs large amounts of nutrients only in the early stage of afforestation, and afterwards returns the absorbed nutrient elements to the soil.

Harm 2: It can cause soil hardening and trigger soil degradation.

Eucalyptus has especially strong water absorption; planting this tree on a large scale will cause soil hardening, and over time will trigger soil desertification, worsen water and soil conservation, trigger landslides and floods, and harm the local natural environment and ecological balance. In fact, the results of scientific research and a large number of field observations prove that eucalyptus does not directly cause drought, but instead can effectively conserve water and soil.

Harm 3: It can inhibit the growth of other species.

Eucalyptus can inhibit the growth of other species; that is, where it grows, other species cannot grow, and animals in the forest will also decrease or even disappear, causing native species to decline and degenerate, making plant species extremely uniform, lowering the level of biodiversity, and destroying the biological food chain. In fact, scientific research has found that almost all harmful invasive plants are herbaceous plants, while eucalyptus, being a tree, has not been proven to have any ecological harm.

III. How is eucalyptus planted?

As mentioned above, eucalyptus is not really harmful, and moreover it has many uses people do not know about; for example, its leaves can be used to extract eucalyptus oil, which is used in toothpaste, mouthwash, food and medicine; its roots can be eaten, used to obtain water, and used as fuel; its trunk can be used to make paper, and the whole plant can be used as a street tree, a windbreak and sand-fixation forest tree, and a landscaping tree species. In other words, planting eucalyptus also has many uses, so how is eucalyptus planted?

1. Land preparation

Eucalyptus can grow well whether on mountain land or plains, and it is suitable for growing in acidic red soil, yellow soil and alluvial soil with deep soil layers, but grows well in places with deep, loose soil and good drainage. After choosing the plot, land preparation is needed, then pits are dug; when digging pits, the row spacing is 3 m×2 m, and the pit size is 1250px×1250px×1000px, arranged in a zigzag pattern.

2. Preparation

Before planting eucalyptus, basal fertilizer must also be applied in the pits; fertilizer can be applied 1 month before planting, and when backfilling soil, ammonium phosphorus potassium fertilizer can also be mixed with organic fertilizer and applied in the form of hole application; the basal fertilizer is usually fermented urban household waste or barnyard manure.

3. Planting

Planting can be done in spring, because spring temperatures are suitable and rainfall is abundant, so the survival rate of saplings is relatively high; healthy seedlings should be chosen and treated for disease and pest prevention; then the saplings are removed from the bags, planted deeply, and pressed firm; note that the sapling roots are relatively fragile, so do not let them directly contact the basal fertilizer, to avoid burning the roots.

4. Cultivation management

Within 3 to 6 months after the saplings are successfully planted, sufficient light and nutrients must be ensured, weeds must be removed, and soil loosening must also be carried out. Eucalyptus needs more fertilizer in the first 3 years, so timely topdressing is needed; the timing and amount of topdressing should be decided according to the growth of the eucalyptus. The diseases of eucalyptus include scorch disease, bacterial wilt, stem rot, gray mold, etc., and the main pest is subterranean termites, which can be controlled by spraying.

The above is an introduction to the harms of eucalyptus; in fact, these harms occur only in the early stage of afforestation (the first 8-10 years), and only afterwards do its water-storing and fertilizer-storing effects gradually appear. Eucalyptus has a graceful tree form and is evergreen all year round, and it can be successfully planted according to the above planting method.