Performance of Four Broad-leaved Tree Species in a Pinus Enrichment Trial in Central Highlands of Sri Lanka

A study on the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka identified Artocarpus nobilis and Michelia champaca as promising species for converting monoculture Pinus caribaea plantations to mixed-species stands. The research, conducted between 2004 and 2015, evaluated the performance of four broad-leaved tree species under varying light conditions—full shade (Pinus understorey), partial shade (three pine rows removed), and full light (open grassland). After removing all pine trees in 2010, A. nobilis exhibited the highest carbon sequestration and stock in both 2010 and 2015, while M. champaca showed the highest survival rate by 2015. This suggests that these species can effectively replace pine plantations, offering ecological and social benefits to mountainous regions in Sri Lanka.

Chathurika, A., Gunaratne, A., Gunatilleke, C., & Gunatilleke, I. (2023). PERFORMANCE OF FOUR BROAD-LEAVED TREE SPECIES IN A PINUS ENRICHMENT TRIAL IN CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF SRI LANKA. Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 35(1), 10–19. https://doi.org/10.26525/jtfs2023.35.1.10