Commercial Forest Plantations on Saline Lands

This book provides the information that will allow users to recover salt-degraded land with selected plantation timbers and ultimately to make a profit. The authors have drawn on their own experiences plus material from Australia, India, California and Israel where similar saline soil conditions occur. The authors also bring their extensive work in forest biotechnology to the book. The primary species of interest are in the genus Eucalyptus although other species, notably conifers, are referred to. Issues involved in defining the characteristics of sites where plantations may be established and their special management requirements are discussed. Options are presented for the selection and development of appropriate genotypes plus associated management practices. Monitoring of plantations is shown to be a vital management issue. The work includes a chapter on environmental benefits which will broaden the appeal beyond forest managers, extension officers and students of forestry to companies which produce CO2 but which have no prior knowledge of forestry.