Bull
71
Basim A. Abd Ali and Hassan H. Ali
Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus.
(2015) 13 (3): 71-76
APPROPRIATENESS OF Eucalyptus camal / dulensis, Casuarina
equisetifolia AND Olea europaea TREES IN SHELTERBELT OF AL-
ASHRAF NAJAF CITY
Basim A. Abd Ali and Hassan H. Ali
Natural History Research Center and Museum
University of Baghdad, Iraq
ABSTRACT
The research has conducted on shelterbelt of Al-Ashraf Najaf city to explore suitability of
four Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. Forms and two other tree species; Casuarina
equisetifolia and Olea europaea to the local dominant sever conditions. Development in
growth was studied through the interval of five years. Growth parameters included height,
DBH stem diameter, main stem height, crown diameter, and stem girth were investigated.
Distance from water supply was inspected, too. Results showed superiority of E.
camaldulensis upon other species. Investigations showed weakness in growth of C.
equisetifolia where most of trees could not resist because of their position in opposite to sandy
wind stream that deposited sand on plants. So survival percentage was lower than that of the
two other species. O. europaea trees did not show a rate of growth required for such purpose
but it might be beneficial for an economic objectives through olive fruit production. Forms of
E. camaldulensis revealed lesser relative differences in growth parameters than observed
before five years. Form no. II possessed distinctive tree height and stem diameter, while form
III gave smallest growth traits. Other form parameters did not different significantly. The
most effective factor was the distance from water source where far trees (300 m) had smaller
growth traits than those located at 200 m and 100 m distances, that’s might because
inefficiency of the used drip irrigation system.
INTRODUCTION
Shelterbelt is a single or multiple rows of trees or shrubs that are established mainly for
environmental purposes. They are generally founded to protect or shelter nearby leeward
areas from troublesome winds. They reduce wind erosion, protect growing plants (crops and
forage), managed snow, and improve irrigation efficiency. They also protect livestock,
provide wildlife habitat, improve aesthetics, and provide tree or shrub products. In addition,
when used as a living screen, they control views and lessen noise (NRCS, 1997).
They are placed on the windward side of the land to be protected, and are most effective
when oriented at right angles to the prevailing winds. Very dense windbreaks may do more
harm than good since they will tend to create strong turbulence that will scour the soil on the
windward side and damage crops on the leeward side. Conversely, gaps in the trees will
channel the wind, actually increasing the velocity on the leeward side and promoting soil
erosion and damaging crops (Ramachandran Nair, 1993).
Large portion of Iraqi areas are desserts or semi desserts with arid and semi-arid dominant
climates. Sand dunes are present in territories adjacent to the west dessert; they are forming as
a result to wind erosion of naked surface soil. Experimental and practical attempts were
conducted for dun fixation since 70th of last century. Some of applications were succeeded in
72
Appropriateness of E. Camal
stopping sand crawling, as in project of Baiji among Salahaddin governorate. Unstable
conditions in the country that were dominant during the last three decades negatively affected
these projects, so most of them were completely destroyed.
Since few years, some cities and towns started doing shelterbelts by planting a number of
tree rows around them, Holy Najaf and Karbala were the pioneers in this field. These two
cities are lying on Al- Najaf plateau; a part from western plateau which is an extension to the
dessert of Arab Peninsula. It takes triangle shape with Karbala and Al- Razzaza lake represent
its northern heads, while on southern end lies Al- Najaf city (Al- Abbasi, 2013). The whole
area of Karbala-Najaf plateau is about 3000 Km2, Najaf governorate possesses 1750 Km2 of
it with maximum elevation of (176 m) above sea level (Ali and Alwan, 2013). Dominant
climate is that of semi dry regions with almost sand soil which can be satisfied requirements
of colored glass industry (Al-Ajeel et al, 2010).
Main species in the shelterbelt is Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. which comprises about
90% from the hole project till now. It is perennial, single-stemmed, large-boled and medium-
sized to tall tree to 30 m high (Bren and Gibbs, 1986). It exhibits considerable morphological
variation throughout its range, and consequently a number of infra-specific taxa have been
described (CSIRO, 2004, Brooker, et al. 2002). Chemical and genetic variation has also been
recorded in E. camaldulensis (Doran and Brophy, 1990; Stone and Bacon, 1994; Butcher et
al., 2002). The variation in trees of studied area could not be considered as hybrid or a clonal
variation since they belonged to the same species, and not propagated vegetative. Such
individuals with minor form variation within the same species could be regarded as forms.
McComb, 2007 differentiated a group of E. camaldulensis individuals by a specific number
referred to a certain form. These variations were the subject of study, so, in addition to growth
investigation of Casuarina equisetifolia L. and Olea europaea L., aim of study was to explore
the most suitable form of E. camaldulensis to the local environmental conditions in order to
be selected and propagated for further planting processes in the region.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Shelterbelt of Holy Najaf city is a planting project extending to a distance of 14 km length
in northern margin of the city. It is divided in to seven stages; 2 km for each, characterized by
the presence of 30 rows of E. camaldulensis and two rows of C. equisetifolia planted at the
northern edge of the belt opposite to prevailing wind direction, and two other rows of O.
europaea in midway from the two edges. Project has been started at 2007, using ground water
by drip irrigation with spacing of 2 x 4 meters.
Selected trees in shelter belt were subjected to study since 2009. There were 4 forms that
could be distinguished and recognized according to phenotype (Alkinany, et al., 2010). This
research is dealing with variations in growth and other changes in shelterbelt composition
after five years from first study. The effects of species, form, and location on growth
parameters were investigated. Five trees from each form of E. camaldulensis were marked in
each location. Three locations different in distance from water source (100, 200, and 300 m)
were inspected. Trees were measured for height, stem diameter, crown diameter, main stem
height, and girth diameter. Height was measured by long wooden measure stick, diameter by
caliper; main stem height, stem girth, and crown diameter were measured by measuring tape.
Average of two perpendicular measures were taken for each of stem and crown diameters.
Difference between the three species has discussed without statistical analysis because it has
no mean since variations were too large and incomparable. Analysis was performed on forms
E. camaldulensis where data were analyzed statically using factorial CRD design for testing
73
Basim A. Abd Ali and Hassan H. Ali
two factors; first E. camaldulensis forms (4 levels), and second the location (3 levels) with
four replications for each treatment combination. Duncan multiple range test was applied for
test differences between variables.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
After five years from first investigation of Al-Najaf shelterbelt status, it was easily
observed that significant variations occurred between species. C. equisetifolia which
comprised two rows facing to wind direction were the worst. Although some of trees of the
species were died at 2009, others could not resist during last five years. Survived plants were
scattered, weak, and small-sized plants. In some visits, it was noticed that crawling sand
raised and covered high part of plant stems especially after days of strong northern wind
blowing, the reason that forced project managers to do frequent removal processes of
deposited sand. In case of O. europaea trees were healthy, dense-branched, with height range
of 230-280 cm and crown diameter range of 175-185 cm. Position of O. europaea lines is not
optimum for wind breaking since there are many lines of larger E. camaldulensis trees before
them in opposite to wind stream. Certainly, they can enhance opportunities of project success
by offering additional income through fruit and seed production.
In general, mean of E. camaldulensis forms showed no significant differences in growth
traits after seven years of development (Tab. 1). In previous investigations at 2009, Al-Kinany,
et al., 2010 observed some distinct variations between tree forms; it seemed that after five
years of additional growth these variations were declined. Interaction between form and tree
location has occurred. In location (A), Form II showed superiority in tree height upon others,
i.e. when availability of water is there, this form could doing best. In contrast, trees of
Table 1: Differences in tree height and stem diameter of E. camaldulensis trees
according to form and distance from water source.
Note: Mean values having same letter are not different significantly at P≥ 0.05.
form III in same location (A) had lowest height despite water availability. Similar trend was
found in stem diameter, form II in location (A) resulted in 55% higher diameter than form III,
but when taken as a mean of the three locations the difference between two forms was about
H
e
ig
h
t
o
f
T
re
e
(
m
) Location
Tree Form
Mean
I II III IV
A 7.84(ab) 8.03(a) 5.90(b) 7.32(ab) 7.18(a)
B 7.43(ab) 6.83(ab) 7.73(ab) 7.17(ab) 7.29(a)
C 6.25(ab) 5.70(b) 7.03(ab) 6.10(ab) 6.27(b)
Mean 7.06(a) 6.86(a) 6.89(a) 6.85(a) 6.91
S
te
m
D
ia
m
e
te
r
(c
m
)
A
9.55(ab
c)
11.72(a) 7.52(bcd) 9.60(abc) 9.59(a)
B
10.37(a
b)
8.35(bcd) 7.63(abc) 8.08(bcd) 8.61(a)
C 6.17(d) 6.95(cd) 7.65(bcd) 7.43(bcd) 7.05(b)
Mean 8.69(a) 9.00(a) 7.60(b) 8.37(ab) 8.42
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Appropriateness of E. Camal
18%. These two interactions (A II), and (A III) were distinctive in main stem height,
crown diameter, and stem girth, too (Tab 2, 3). The first produced trees with 2.10 m main
stem, 4.22 m crown diameter, and 35.7 cm of stem girth. In contrast, the second interaction (A
III) resulted in 1.52 m, 2.91 m and 24.7 cm for main stem, crown diameter and girth of
stem, respectively.
The most significant factor was the distance from water source. First two locations (A and
B) revealed comparable results. They both significantly differed from the faraway location (C)
which produced shorter and thinner trees comparing with first two. Height of tree, stem
diameter, crown diameter, and stem girth at location (C) were lower than that of location (A)
by 15%, 36%, 34%, and 32% and that of location (B) by 16%, 22%, 22%, and 29%,
respectively.
Table 2: Differences in main stem height and crown diameter of E. camaldulensis trees
according to form and distance from water source.
M
a
in
s
te
m
h
e
ig
h
t
(m
) Location
Tree Form
Mean
I II III IV
A 1.81(ab) 2.10(ab) 1.52(ab) 1.87(ab) 1.82(a)
B 1.42(b) 1.58(ab) 1.62(ab) 1.70(ab) 1.57(a)
C 1.66(ab) 2.23(a) 1.70(ab) 1.47(ab) 1.76(a)
Mean 1.63(b) 1.97(a) 1.61(b) 1.68(b) 1.72
C
ro
w
n
D
ia
m
e
te
r
(m
)
A 3.59(b) 4.22(a) 2.91(bc) 3.88(a) 3.65(a)
B 3.69(ab) 2.65(bc) 3.68(ab)
3.28(abc
)
3.33(a)
C 2.59(bc) 2.38(c)
3.16(abc
)
2.78(bc) 2.72(b)
Mean 3.29(a) 3.08(a) 3.27(a) 3.32(a) 3.23
Note: Mean values having same letter are not different significantly at P≥ 0.05.
Height of main stem did not show significant differences between the three locations. Field
notifications referred that moist areas around trees were smaller in location (C) i.e. less
amount of water. Depression in water pressure with distance normally shortened the share of
plant from irrigation water.
Table 3: Differences in stem girth diameter of E. camaldulensis trees according to form and
distance from water source.
S
te
m
G
ir
th
D
ia
m
e
te
r
(c
m
) Location
Tree Form
Mean
I II III IV
A 30.33(a) 35.67(a) 24.67(bc) 31.33(abc) 30.50(a)
B 34.67(ab) 26.33(abc) 31.67(ab) 27.33(abc) 30.00(a)
C 20.67(c) 22.33(c) 25.00(abc) 24.66(bc) 23.16(b)
Mean 28.56(a) 28.11(a) 27.11(a) 27.78(a) 27.89
Note: Mean values having same letter are not different significantly at P≥ 0.05.
75
Basim A. Abd Ali and Hassan H. Ali
LITERATURE CITED
Al- Abbasi, A. Mousa (2013). The Geological Agents that Made Al-Najaf Plateau as Place of
Flooding. Jour. Thi-Qar Univ.: 8 (4): 74-84. ( In Arabic).
Al- Ajeel, A. W.; Nawfal A.; Hammodi S.; Abdulla, Z. and Sabbar, B. A. (2010). Evaluation
of sands from Dibdibba formation in Al-Najaf plateau, central Iraq, for colored
glass manufacturing. Iraqi Bulletin of Geology and Mining, 6 (1): 139-145.
Ali, T. H. and Alwan, H. O. (2013). Afforestation of dessert areas in Najaf city-case study and
analysis. The Iraqi Jour. Agric, Sci., 44(6): 754-762.
Alkinany, A. I.; Abd Ali, B. A. and Ali H. H. (2010). Evaluation the growth and suitability of
some tree species in shelterbelt project in holly Najaf city. Alustath, No. 137, 199-
216. (In Arabic).
Bren, L. J. and Gibbs, N. L. (1986). Relationships between flood frequency, vegetation and
topography in a river red gum forest. Australian Forest Research 16, 357-370.
Brooker, M. I. H.; Connors, J. R.; Slee, A.V. and Duffy, S. (2002). Eucalypts of southern
Australia (CD Rom), EUCLID, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.
Butcher, P. A.; Otero, A.; McDonald, M.W. and Moran G.F. (2002). Nuclear RFLP variation
in Eucalyptus camaldulensisDehnh. from northern Australia Heredity, 88, 402-412.
CSIRO, (2004). Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. River Red Gum Taxon. Attribute Profiles .
Water for a healthy country. http://www.cpbr.gov.au/cpbr/WfHC/Eucalyptus-
camaldulensis/.
Doran, J. and Brophy J.J. 1990. Tropical gums-a source of 1, 8-cineole-rich Eucalyptus oil.
New Forest., 4: 157-178.
Duncan, D. B. (1955). Multiple range and multiple F. test. Biometrics 11:1-42.
NRCS, (1997). Natural Resources conservation service, USDA, 1997. Windbeak/Shelterbelt.
Conservation Practice Job Sheet 380.
Ramachandran N. (1993). An Introduction to Agroforestry, Kluwer Academic Publisher in
cooperation with ICRAF. 499 pp.
Stone, C. and Bacon, P. E. (1994). Relationships among moisture stress, insect herbivory,
foliar cineole content and the growth of river red gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis.
Journal of Applied Ecology 31: 604-612.
76
Appropriateness of E. Camal
Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus.
(2015) 13 (3): 71-76
equisetifolia، كاسوارينا camal / dulensisمدى مالئمة أشجار األوكالبتوس
االشرف في الحزام مدينة النجف europaeaوأوليا
باسم عباس عبد علي و حسن حسين علي
متحف التاريخ الطبيعي
الخالصة
(Forms) أجري البحث على الحزام االخضر لمدينة النجف االشرف لدراسة مالئمة أربعة أشكال
الكازورينا مع نوعين اخرين هما .Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh من اليوكالبتوس
Casuarina equisetifolia L. والزيتون Olea europaea L. للظروف القاسية السائدة في
(DBH) تم قياس التطور الحاصل في نمو االشجار من حيث ارتفاع الشجرة ، قطر الساق. المنطقة
ابقة ، طول الساق الرئيسي، محيط الساق وقطر التاج خالل فترة خمس سنوات من بعد دراسة س
اظهرت . كما تم البحث في تاثير بعد الشجرة عن مصدر المياه على نموها . أجريت على الموقع
النتائج تفوق اليوكالبتوس على النوعين اآلخرين وظهر التأثير الكبير على اشجار الكازورينا
النجاة فيها أقل المواجهة للريح السائدة التي أدت أحيانا الى تغطية اجزاء النبات بالرمال فكانت نسبة
لم يعط الزيتون نموا وحجما بؤهله لالستخدام في هذا المجال اذا ما اغفلنا . من النوعين اآلخرين
.الجانب االنتاجي المتمثل بدعم المشروع اقتصاديا من خالل انتاج ثمار الزيتون
س سنوات قد بينت النتائج ان التباينات في النمو بين أشكال اليوكالبتوس التي ظهرت قبل خم
من ناحية طول II انخفضت بحيث تقاربت بيانات النمو من بعضها مع تميز ملحوظ للشكل رقم
أقل القيم من حيث معدالت النمو ولم تظهر اشكال III الشجرة وقطرها في حين أعطى الشكل رقم
المياه حيث التأثير المعنوي الواضح كان لبعد الشجرة عن مصدر. اليوكالبتوس االخرى فروقا معنوية
أقل من نظيراتها لالشجار متوسطة البعد والقريبة من ( م 033)كانت بيانات النمو لالشجار البعيدة
.المصدر ربما بسبب كفاءة نظام الري بالتنقيط المستخدم في المشروع