Adaptability Investigation of Six Species of Gum Tree for Afforestation under Dryland Conditions

The current research is the first step on integral investigations to introduce suitable Eucalyptus provenance in order to use and development plantation with aim of increasing the wood production and import reduction. The study was carried out as randomized completely block design with six treatments (based on different provenances of Eucalyptus) and three replicates during 2008 to 2013. Accordingly, in each replicates 49 seedlings of each provenance were planted at 3 × 3 m spacing. Operations like crust breaking, weeding and weed removal, as well as qualitative and quantitative measures were performed each year until the end of the study. The results of the six-year study showed that E. camaldulensis 41-ch and E. macarthurii 169-sh provenance had the highest and lowest survival in Pars Abad area, 93.57% and 13.33%, respectively. Analysis of quantitative data indicated that the E. camaldulensis 41-ch, E.viminalis168- sh and E. viminalis 168-ch provenances of dbh and height growth 10.65, 9.55 and 9.47 cm respectively 50.8 cm and total height average 8.5, 7.10 and 6.7 respectively, had the best growth. Finally, the E. camaldulensis 41-ch, E.viminalis168-sh and E. viminalis 168-ch provenances, for the next phase of adaptability test were selected.