TITLE:
Study of Atlas Cedar Growth (Cedrus atlantica Manetti) in El M’sid Mountains (East Algeria): Productivity and Growth According to Planting Methods
AUTHORS:
Amina Keriem, Mohamed Sbabdji, Luc Lambs
KEYWORDS:
Atlas Cedar, El M’Sid Mountains, Tree Productivity, Radial Growth, Hillside Ditches
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Forestry,
Vol.8 No.2,
April
20,
2018
ABSTRACT: The Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) is one of the more valuable
reforestation species in the Mediterranean areas. But this species suffers from
rainfall limitation and climate changes, particularly in its originated area, North
Africa. Therefore, any knowledge about the plantation practices to improve the tree
water availability and the reforestation success has great importance. The current
study has been undertaken in this view, i.e. to compare the growth of cedar plots
located in El M’Sid Mountains, Souk Ahras department (700 km east of Algiers), according
to different planting methods. The radial growth and the productivity have been
measured on a cedar plot with a total surface of 165 ha. 150 ha has been planted
in 1970 on hillside ditches, and 15 ha of which the majority is planted in a simple
hole and some bouquets on terraces, both are originated from a
complementary reforestation achieved during 1980.
The results show that most of the trees planted in 1970 reach a height ranging between
10 and 17 m and a diameter between 23 and 44 cm. Even some trees were 20 m high
with diameter of 65 cm. The productivity fluctuates between 3 and 8 m3/ha/year,
values close to the one of natural native plots. Trees planted in 1980 reach a height
ranging between 5. 5 to 7 m, and diameter between 11.5 to 23 cm. The radial growth
improves that the hillside ditches help the roots anchoring and trees growth during
the first season after plantation. These results indicate that the cedar tree can
be used with success in areas outside the natural cedar forest presence, and that
appropriate planting techniques can compensate in part the lower rainfall occurring
in these chosen regeneration areas.