Growth Strains in Acacia Auriculaeformis Trees of Different Age: Their Relationship with Growth Rate and Height

Abstract Longitudinal Growth Strains in Acacia auriculaeformis were measured to understand the influence of growth rate and tree height on growth stresses. A total of 18 trees of Acacia auriculaeformis were sampled from three age classes viz. 8 year, 10 year and 12 year old plantations (six trees from each plantation). A significant difference was observed in growth strains within trees at different heights and in trees of different age classes. Magnitude of growth strain was found to increase initially with tree height up to 3 m and subsequently declined. The trend was similar in trees of all the three age classes. There was a moderate relationship of growth strain with diameter increment rate, which needs to be confirmed with a large sample size.