Effect of Lopping on the Growth of Acacia tortilis Plantations

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of seasons and various intensities of lopping on the growth of Acacia tortilis plantations in the hot arid regions oflndia. Lopping was found to affect the diameter growth of the trees adversely though the adverse effect of lopping on diameter growth was found significant only in case of heavy lopping in summer season. The diameter increment was generally greatest in the unlopped trees. A high intensity of lopping had a positive but not much pronounced effect on height growth. It is concluded that the effect of season was mainly responsible for the large variations in the height and diameter growth of the trees. It has been observed that for height growth winter is the hetter season oflopping followed by monsoon and summer.