Abstract

The establishment of D. sissoo plantations for wood production can be an attractive proposition in economic terms. In general, fast-grown plantation trees have proven to produce as good timber and fuel wood as slow-grown trees from natural forests. The disadvantage of plantation production is that wood from fast-grown trees has a higher sapwood-to-heartwood ratio, thus producing a smaller proportion of the dark heartwood that commands premium prices. To maximize profit from timber plantations, it is important to take local market fluctuations into account. Careful management improves timber quality and thus crop value. Although longer rotations are generally more profitable, opportunistic harvesting may be advisable when market conditions are particularly favorable