Detailed Explanation of Eucalyptus Planting Techniques and Management Key Points
Eucalyptus belongs to the Myrtaceae family, genus Eucalyptus, and is an evergreen plant. It is also known by other names such as white diesel tree, mang tree, youjiali, large-leaf eucalyptus, large-leaf eucalypt, oil eucalypt, jiali tree, and large-leaf eucalyptus, among others. Eucalyptus is native to Australia and is one of the world's three famous fast-growing tree species (poplar, pine, and eucalyptus). Currently, more than 90 countries and regions across five continents have widely introduced and cultivated it, with the planted area accounting for about 1/3 of the world's plantation forest area.
Eucalyptus Planting Characteristics
1. Strong adaptability: Eucalyptus prefers a warm climate but is not tolerant of hot and humid conditions; growth is poor when the climate is too hot. Eucalyptus is light-demanding, and even slight shading can affect its growth rate. Eucalyptus is not strongly cold-tolerant and can only withstand brief periods of low temperatures around -7°C. If exposed to -5°C for 2-3 days, it will suffer varying degrees of frost damage — in mild cases, small branches die off; in severe cases, the entire plant dies. Eucalyptus prefers fertile, moist, acidic soil.
2. Fast growth: Eucalyptus is the fastest-growing tree species in the world. During the peak growing season, it can grow 3 cm in height in 1 day, 1 m in a month, and up to 10 m in a year.
3. Few pests and diseases: Since eucalyptus is an introduced species and has not been planted on a large scale in China for a long time, large-scale pest and disease outbreaks have rarely occurred, making the situation much better than that of poplar. However, in recent years, pest and disease problems have shown a trend of expansion and development.
4. Extremely short rotation period: The rotation period of Norway spruce plantations in Northern Europe is 70 years. In China, the rotation period of masson pine plantations is 20-25 years, and that of Chinese fir is 15-20 years. In contrast, the rotation period of eucalyptus plantations in the southern provinces is 5-7 years, and in the Leizhou Peninsula, some are even shortened to 3-4 years.
5. Wide range of uses: Eucalyptus wood is red in color, lustrous, odorless, with interlocked grain, dense structure, hard and heavy texture, and easy to bend, making it highly suitable for bentwood applications. It can be used for furniture, flooring, turnery, tool handles, and agricultural implements. Its fiber is a good raw material for papermaking, and small-diameter timber has a high calorific value and can be used as fuel, making its uses extremely wide-ranging.
Planting Environment Requirements
Eucalyptus has strong adaptability and can grow even in poor, thin soil. However, its fast-growing characteristics can only be brought into full play under suitable soil conditions.
1. Soil: Eucalyptus is fertilizer-demanding and generally requires deep, loose, fertile red soil or lateritic red soil, and grows well when the soil is neutral or slightly acidic.
2. Light: Eucalyptus is a light-demanding tree species and requires strong sunlight throughout its growing period to grow well. Growth on sunny slopes is better than on shady slopes.
3. Altitude: When afforesting mountainous areas, altitude must also be considered. For every 100 m increase in altitude, the temperature drops by 0.6°C. Cold tolerance must be taken into account, and the altitude generally should not exceed 350 m.
4. Temperature: Eucalyptus should not be planted where the annual extreme temperature is below -5°C.
Eucalyptus Planting Techniques
Planting density of common eucalyptus species (spacing): Eucalyptus camaldulensis clones 1.5m×3m, 148 trees per mu; Eucalyptus dunnii and Eucalyptus saligna 2m×3m, 117 trees per mu, or 3m×3m, 89 trees per mu.
The best planting months for eucalyptus are February to June each year. Eucalyptus planted during this period has a high survival rate and vigorous growth.