Research on the Bio ecological Characteristics and Cultivation Techniques for Calamus simplicifolius

This paper deals with the distribution of natural resource and bio ecological characteristics,cultivation techniques including the increase of supper seedlings of Calamus simplicifolius and the analysis of economic benefit of its plantations.The research results showed that although the species is only distributed in primary and secondary forests in the eastern and southern parts of Hainan Island at altitudes ranging from 300 to 1100 m,the plantations can be expanded to the southern parts of Guangdong,Guangxi and Fujian Provinces.The regions with an annual mean temperature 22℃,annual rainfall 1500 mm,15℃ active accumulated temperature 7000℃,the coldest month temperature 14℃,short dry season,no frost,and thick,moist and fertile soils are the most suitable areas for the cultivation of C.simplicifolius.Seeds should be extracted and cleaned immediately after collection.The normal nursery practice is to sow the cleaned seeds in sand beds in the shade.The seeds stored in humid sand until March of next year still hve a high germination rate.Adequate sunlight,water and fertilizer applications are very important for enhancing the growth of seedlings.The containerized seedlings of C.simplicifolius should be intercropped in the forests of Gmelina chinensi,Michelia macclurei,Casuarina equisetifolia, and Pinus massoniana with planting densities of 1200～1500 clumps/hm2.Group planting with 3～4 seedlings per clump is considered to be suitable for the species.It is estimated that within a management period of 25 years,the total yield may possibly reach 11349 kg/hm2 with net worth ≥$42939/hm2, IRR≥21.2%, B/C ≥2.13,and investment recovry period≤10.3 years.It is shown that to invest the plantation of C.simplicifolius are vigorous capable of resistant to risk in economics.