Effects of successive rotations on stand growth and soil properties of monoculture Acacia plantations across ecological regions in Vietnam
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55250/Jo.vnuf.11.1.2026.037-046Keywords:
Acacia plantation, plantation productivity, soil properties, stand growth, sucessive rotationsAbstract
Several studies have reported that successive rotations of fast-growing plantations may lead to soil degradation and productivity decline, particularly under short-rotation management and intensive harvesting practices. However, information on how changes in soil properties influence the growth and productivity of major Acacia plantation species in Vietnam, including Acacia mangium, Acacia auriculiformis, and Acacia hybrids, across successive rotations in different ecological regions remains limited. To address this knowledge gap, this study used data collected from 54 sample plots established in Tuyen Quang, Nghe An, and Binh Dinh Provinces, Vietnam, during the period from 2023 to 2024. The results showed that: (1) The growth and productivity of Acacia plantations varied considerably among successive rotations and site conditions. The mean annual volume increment reached its highest values in the second rotation and declined in the third rotation, particularly in Tuyen Quang Province; (2) Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus tended to decrease, whereas soil bulk density increased under higher plantation rotations; (3) Pearson correlation analysis indicated that soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and pH(KCl) had no significant relationships with stand growth indicators; (4) Soil bulk density showed significant negative correlations with the stand’s mean breast-height diameter, height, volume, and mean annual volume increment (r = -0.462 to -0.483; p < 0.01), indicating that soil compaction was an important limiting factor affecting the growth of Acacia plantations. These findings highlight the important role of soil physical properties in maintaining the productivity of Acacia plantations across successive rotations in Vietnam.
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