Eucalyptus pellita can be regenerated through coppice. We report on the first known study of full-rotation productivity of E. pellita coppice and seedling re-establishment methods. We conducted this study at a high productivity site in South Sumatra, with the objectives to (1) evaluate the productivity of a first rotation of coppice stand in comparison with a replanted seedling crop, (2) investigate the effect of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertiliser application on growth, and (3) examine the effect of timing of coppice stem number reduction on growth. The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design replicated five times. At the end of rotation (6 years after establishment) the coppice stand had substantially higher productivity (height 23.7 m, diameter 16.4 cm, volume 269.9 m³ ha⁻¹, and MAI 45.0 m³ ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) compared to the replanted seedling stand (height 20.5 m, diameter 13.8 cm, volume 193.6 m³ ha⁻¹, and MAI 32.3 m³ ha⁻¹ y⁻¹). Coppice stand also had higher biomass production but slightly lower wood density than the seedling stand. Neither stand responded to application of N fertiliser, and only the seedling stand responded positively to P fertiliser addition. Coppice reduction to one stem at 2 months after tree felling produced the stand with slightly greater diameter than that at 4 months after tree felling, but had approximately the same volume.

We report on a study of mid-rotation weed control and nutrient management in Eucalyptus pellita plantations in South Sumatra. The study was established at two contrasting sites (representing high and low productivity for the region) that had previously carried three rotations of Acacia mangium. A combination of weed control, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) fertiliser were applied at 1 and 2 years after establishment. We found that the addition of up to 250 kg N ha⁻¹ applied either at 1 year or 2 years after planting did not improve growth. The application of P (30 kg P ha⁻¹) at age 1 year (in addition to 12 kg P ha⁻¹ applied at planting) did not enhance tree growth either. Keeping the plantation free from weed competition throughout rotation (full weed control) enhanced wood volume up to age 4 years at the high-productivity site, while it improved wood volume up to the end of rotation at age 6 years at the low-productivity site. An additional experiment assessing the effect of weed control in the early phase of plantation establishment revealed that weed competition reduced young tree growth of E. pellita substantially. The results of the studies support the current practice of plantation management of E. pellita in the region that applied only P fertiliser at planting time and that kept trees free from weed competition before canopy closure. Full weed control throughout rotation is worth practicing at lower-productivity sites to achieve maximum productivity.