Koa:A Decade of Growth ~ Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation by Acacia koa at the Keauhou Ranch Reforestation Area

Introduction The rate at which Acacia koa (koa) stands develop has important implications for koa plantation forestry and the use of koa in ecosystem restoration. How quickly individual trees grow, how growth rate changes over time, and how stands self-thin is not well understood. Development of koa stands may differ from that of other trees because koa is a nitrogen-fixing species. Like most legumes, koa is able to convert atmospheric nitrogen to a plant-usable form. In many Hawaiian forests, nitrogen is the nutrient that limits plant production, so koa may play an important role in ecosystem processes. The questions that I'll address include What is the rate of biomass and nitrogen accumulation in koa stands of different ages?, and How does nitrogen fixation by koa change as stands age?