Coppice Growth from Tree Species Growing in an Energy Plantation : Effect of Spacing

The effect of tree stump spacing on sprouting and growth of sprouts was studied in four tree species ( Azadirachta indica, Acacia nilotica, Leuctuma leucocephala and Eucalyptus hybrid), in a 6 and 5 year old energy plantation, growing in the semi-arid vertisols in Karnataka State. Bark thickness did not appear to be a hindrance in permitting sprouting of coppice shoots, although stump diameters were greater under wider spacing (3 × 1 m). Sprouting took place in all four species, and the optimum spacing for obtaining tall coppice shoots was 3 × 1 m for A. nilotica and L. leucocephala , and 2 × 2 m for A. indica and Eucalyptus hybrid.