Early Growth Performance of Melia species in Different Agro-Climatic Zones of Shivalik Region of Lower Himalayas

Short rotation fast growing tree species have gained attention among farming community and wood-based industries. Among them, Melia species (family- Meliaceae) are considered promising due to their fast growth, straight stem, clear bole, small leaves, and resistance to pests and insect attacks, making them highly suitable for farmers' plantations. In this experiment, saplings of three Melia species, viz: Melia azedarach, M. composita and M. dubia were planted in two agro-climatic zones during 2020. The first site was the experimental farm of Silviculture and Agroforestry, SKUAST-Jammu, located in the sub-tropical zone, while the second was a farmer's field at Dingi Simbli, Billawar, in Kathua district, representing the intermediate zone. After two years of growth (2021–22), Melia composita recorded the maximum plant height (3.03 m and 5.64 m), collar diameter (45.6 mm and 90.9 mm), leaf area index (1.20 and 1.78), and crown diameter (0.87 m and 1.85 m) under the sub-tropical zone, which were statistically higher than observed in the intermediate zone. The overall performance of the three Melia species with respect to growth parameters in the sub-tropical zone followed the order: M. composita>M. dubia> M. azedarach during both years of the study.