On-going and proposed future Research in industrial forest plantations in Kenya; a paper presented at a workshop on setting of National Forestry Research priorities in Kenya.

Abstract

Several research activities have been going on in industrial forest plantations and some achievements have been made in some areas. Appropriate seed collection, extraction and storage techniques have been developed. Seed stands and orchards have been established for several plantation species for seed production. Plus trees of Cupressus lusitanica and Pinus patula have been selected. Selection and vegetative propagation of P.radiata trees resistant to Dothistroma pini is going on. A total of 67 trees of C.lusitanica resistant to cypress aphid have been selected. Eight months old seedlings have no ad\Q.ntageover 5 months old ones after planting. Good seedling establishment have been obtained after burning logging debris and slashing weeds. A 2.5 X 2.5m spacing of trees have been found to be economically superior. Research has also been carried out on pests and diseases especially Armillaria root disease, diseases of seeds and seedlings and cypress aphid. A parasitoid !auesia juniperorum has been introduced to control cypress aphid but has not established. Strength values of the main structural timbers has been established and are in use. Spacing have been shown to have no significant effect on wood quality. A technology for production of laminated wood products have been developed and adopted. P.caribaea has been found to produce higher amounts of resin than P.ellioti. Several Eucalyptus spp have been found to be suitable for production of commercial medicinal and essential oils. Other ongoing research work and achievements have been outlined in the paper. Future directionsin industrial plantation research are also proposed.