Comparing the early growth performance of plantation–grown Eucalyptus hybrid and Eucalyptus pellita, South Johore, Peninsular Malaysia

Eucalyptus spp. is an important species in the worldwide quality tropical hardwood sector, which has also gained significance in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia since the first large plantations established in 2008s.  In October 2018, the trial planting of Eucalyptus hybrid (E. grandis x E. urophylla) and Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell was conducted in Hulu Sedili Forest Plantations, Kota Tinggi, Johore a tropical site with year–round high rainfall and humidity.  The E. hybrid were formerly raised using tissue culture technique in the laboratory, Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) using the plantlets introduced from Tawau, Sabah. While the E. pellita seedlings were conventionally raised from seeds obtained from Seed Production Areas in Sabah Softwood Bhd, Tawau. After 18 months, it was clear that diameter, height growth and periodic increments of E. hybrid out performed E. pellita in the humid tropical environment. The average diameter at breast height, total height, periodic annual diameter and height increments of E. hybrid were significantly different in comparison with E. pellita.  The initial vegetative measurement revealed the growth performance of Eucalyptus hybrid with respect with achieved diameter at breast height and total height was higher as compared with Eucalyptus pellita with good survival rate of greater than 90 percent.