Testing Acacia species on alkaline soils in West Timor.

Abstract

Trials of 11 species (14 provenances) at 5 sites in West Timor were assessed 1.6 or 2.6 yr after planting. The best Acacia species on highly alkaline soils were A. ampliceps, A. holosericea (A. colei), A. auriculiformis and the native species A. leucophloia [A. leucophloea]. Some species, such as A. torulosa and A. shirleyi, appeared to be intolerant of alkaline soils. In A. crassicarpa, of two provenances tested, one tolerated alkaline soils while another exhibited severe nutrient deficiency. All the introduced species performed better on lowland sites than on highland sites. The other species tested were A. leptocarpa, A. stenophylla, A. trachycarpa, A. polystachya (2 provenances) and A. plectocarpa (2 provenances).