Mixed species plantations: prospects and challenges

7 About 2% of English-language literature on plantations deals with mixed-species 8 plantations, but only a tiny proportion (<0.1%) of industrial plantations are 9 polycultures. Small landholders are more innovative, with 12% of Australia’s farm 10 forestry plantations under mixed-species plantings, and 80% of Queensland’s farm 11 forestry as polycultures. We examine reasons for this discrepancy, and explore the 12 history, silviculture and economics of polycultures. Financial analyses suggest that a 13 yield stimulus of 10%, depending on product and rotation length, may be sufficient to 14 offset increased costs associated with planting and managing a mixed-species 15 plantation, a stimulus that has been demonstrated in many field trials. We conclude 16 that the main obstacle to commercial uptake of polycultures in industrial plantations 17 may be the lack of operational-scale demonstrations coupled with reliable financial 18 analyses. 19