When set out in a plantation design, Paulownias are planted closely in
rows, then thinned by the row, over a number of seasons. In the first
year of growth, mid season, every second row is harvested as
lightweight material for pole constructions and the like.
After having been cut, the stumps left in the ground will re-generate
at a remarkable speed. The resultant growth is used as a
cut-and-come-again source of green manure or fodder.
Early during the following growing season, the stumps fail due to
over-competition from the remaining plantation, mainly this is a light
requirement factor, or rather, lack thereof. The leaves are huge.
Grazing animals are not allowed into the plantation at this time.
The following season, but later in, once again, the now second row of standing timber (now about 6 inches thick) is harvested.
The same process is followed, only, this harvested timber is quite valuable for cabinet making, veneers and such.
The resultant stumps are left in-situ to re-grow. At this size, once
cut, the stump releases the majority of its stored nitrogen comparable
with the loss of its biomass.
This mass release is then taken up by the remaining trees.
Resultant re-growth, although a marvelous source of regenerating
green manure or mulch - is more efficiently utilized as standing fodder
for grazing animals, which in their turn add manure to the plantation.
For the next two seasons, or until the stumps cease fodder production
due to over-competition, grazers are periodically allowed in to feed.
Provided there is enough standing fodder, the animals will leave the
bark on the timber trees alone, so damage to the trees is neglegible.
After the fourth season, provided no inter-crop has been incorporated,
grazers can generally be allowed into the plantation, to manage the
proliferation of weed growth and add their manure to the system. These
weeds tend to be soft due to the lower light conditions, therefore
easily manageable by grazing stock. Although the understorey does have
lower light conditions, the overall effect is more akin to 'park-like
conditions', rather than 'rain-forest conditions'.
More secondary rows may indeed be subsequently removed or not,
depending on the overall plantation system plan and the quality of the
Paulownia timber desired. |
