Factors causing the death of Kabesak (Acacia leucophloea Roxb. Willd.) seedlings in the monsoon tropical forest of Timor Island

Seedling survival drought shade herbivore kabesak

Authors

  • Arnold C. Hendrik
    arnold_hendrik@yahoo.co.id
    Program Studi Pendidikan Biologi, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Univ. Kristen Artha Wacana, Indonesia
  • Novi I. Bullu Program Studi Pendidikan Biologi, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Univ. Kristen Artha Wacana, Indonesia

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Regeneration of kabesak (Acacia leucophloea) in the primary forest of the Timor Island
regenerationis dominated by tree stands than seedlings and saplings. Seedling and
sapling supplies are very important for regulating or maintaining plant populations
and their adaptation to environmental changes. This study aims to determine the effect
of shades, herbivores, and seedlings height on the survival and growth of Kabesak
seedlings in natural forests in Timor Island. The research was conducted in dry season,
from July to December 2020. The stages in this study were determining the research
location and selecting kabesak seedlings that grew in nature, marking and measuring
of height of the selected kabesak seedlings. Data collection was done eight times with
interval of three weeks including number of dead seedling and number of leaves for live
seedlings. The results showed that the presence of shade can reduce the effects of
drought, thereby increasing the survival of seedlings in the natural habitat of deciduous
tropical forests. Apart from shading factors, seedling height during the dry season also
affect the survival of kabesak seedlings, where there was no dead seedling with 15 cm
or more height. The herbivores in this study were not found to be the main cause of
death for seedlings. To ensure the survival of kabesak seedlings in their natural
habitats, it is necessary to avoid kabesak seedlings < 15 cm from the effects of long-term
drought, as well as from herbivores and fires.