Agronomic evaluation of tree and shrub species in southeast Queensland

The production of 71 species of trees and shrubs was evaluated over a period of 3 to 5 growing seasons on an infertile, poorly drained site at Mt Cotton, southeast Queensland. Their productivity was compared to that of Leucaena leucocephala cv. Cunningham at the same site. Most of the species were tropical in origin and their productivity was low in this sub-tropical environment. The native Australian species Acacia dealbata, A. cincinnata, A. saligna and Casuarina glauca were the most productive species but mortality was high in A. dealbata and A. saligna and they also produced a high proportion of woody inedible stem material. Albizia chinensis was the most productive of the exotic species. Other species which may have potential in this environment included Calliandra calothyrus and Enterolobium cylocarpum.