Water Availability Controls the Biomass Increment of Melia dubia in South India

Farmland tree cultivation is considered an important option for enhancing wood production. In South India, the native leaf-deciduous species Melia dubia popular short-rotation plantations. Across a rainfall gradient from 420 to 2170 mm year–1, we studied 186 farmland woodlots between one and nine years in age. The objectives were identify main factors controlling aboveground biomass (AGB) growth rates. A power-law model predicts average stand-level AGB of 93.8 Mg ha–1 nine-year-old woodlots. resulting annual increment over length rotation cycle 10.4 which falls within range reported other tropical When expressing parameters as functions management, climate soil variables, it explains 65% variance AGB. results indicate that water availability driver M. dubia. Compared effects availability, nutrients are 26% 60% smaller. We conclude because its high accumulation rates farm forestry, promising candidate plantations India beyond.