2 in a Series
The Nursery
Mahogany seeds come from seed pods, generally there are
around 64 seeds per pod and more than 30
pods per tree or nearly 2,000 seeds
per newly matured tree. Large
mature trees produce many more. Most
villages or barangays have newly matured trees that are usually 15+/- years
old.
The seeds are planted one to two inches apart in loose, but rich bedding soil.
The illustrated nursery rows are 10 meters long and one meter wide. There are
approximately 250 seedlings in plastic bags in each square meter and there are
four rows representing 10,000+/- seedlings produced from fewer than five newly matured trees.
This quantity can complete a one
hectare project.
Provide little shade and water for one year and they are ready to plant away from the protection of the nursery. If you plant too soon the mortality rate will exceed 80%. Even when planted properly you will have a mortality rate of nearly 40% during the first three years. Each time a tree dies (dry season) it must be replaced the following planting season (wet season). Amazingly, the replacement’s growth will catch up to its older siblings and complete the canopy.
After 3 years the mortality rate of the saplings drops to
less than 1%.
Contributors receive regular progress reports and are invited to visit the site.
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