Advantages And Disadvantages of Cedrela mexicana Species

Cedrela trees planted in Woteva village, Cameroon

 

Eight Advantages

 

1-Trees add on average 2.5 cm in diameter at breast height and 2 m in height every year under good growth conditions. In 15 to 20 years, one can expect to harvest good volumes of wood. In the absence of growth obstructions, trees can reach heights of 30 to 60m with a relatively narrow buttress. They are among the fastest growing tree species in the world.

 

2-They are resistant to termites and wood boring insects mostly in Africa. You can expect to have tall, huge and healthy trees. However, they are frequently attacked by the mahogany shoot-borer in Latin America. 

 

3-They produce multipurpose timber. The wood is moderately soft and durable and its ability to resist parasites enable it to be used for diverse purposes including furniture, boat building, moderate construction, fencing, interior decoration, etc.

 

Mathias E. and Ndumbe Ekema observing sawn  Cedrela tree

 

4-They are suitable for agroforestry. In Latin America, they have been tested to serve as minor shade to coffee and cocoa plants with good results. They also grow well when mixed with other economic tree species such as Mahogany and Iroko.

 

5-The trees have many ecological and environmental advantages. Apart from being used to decorate streets their flowers are a good source of nectar for honey bees, birds and other insects.  Trees produce thousands of seeds to enable rapid propagation. Seedlings can be transplanted with ease to other locations without any laboratory treatment. Also, the trees do not require too many soil nutrients and grow well in a variety of well-drained to semi-drained soil types.

36-year-old Cedrela trees planting by Wewuley Consultancy

 

6-Trees can resist long and severe periods of drought. What else can you demand from a tree in your environment than its ability to withstand chronic climatic distortions?

 

7-They have a density ranging from 410 to 525 kg/m3 at 12% moisture content. This allows the wood to be flexible and durable enough to support many wood design projects.

 

8-They grow best at altitudes ranging from 0-1900m above sea level. The trees can be planted in mountainous regions, plains, valleys and plateaus.

 

Six Disadvantages

 

1-They can easily be bent by strong winds during early growth stages. Trees require minimum protection during the first two years of growth if planted in regions where strong winds are of frequent occurrences. This can be costly.

 

2-They require good exposure to sunlight and also some degree of shade. Finding the right balance can be challenging. They grow best if planted in mixed systems with other species such as mahogany, iroko and similar economic trees.

 

3-The species can invade the environment and destroy other plants and the ecosystem if uncontrolled. From eight years and above, trees bear thousands of flowers and nectar every year and produce thousands of seeds. The light nature of seeds allows them to be propagated easily by strong winds, birds and insects. To prevent any invasion, farmers have to monitor propagated seedlings and destroy trees in unwanted locations.

 

 Collecting data – heights, diameter at breast heights and locations

 

4-Lack of proper early growth maintenance can result to end splitting and wrapping of wood during milling. It is, therefore, important to monitor infringements to grow during young ages to prevent growth stress.

 

5-Trees can be attacked by some species of snails, slugs and beetles although these attacks are rare in Africa. In Latin America, however, Hypsipyla grandella is the main parasite which attacks the species frequently.  

 

Despite the few disadvantages, these species are worth having in our equatorial and tropical environments. 

 

 For more information, write us treff@treff-end.com

 

References:

• Cintron, Barbara B. “Cedrela odorata L. Cedro hembra, Spanish cedar.” Silvics of North America654 (1990): 250.
• Ford, L. B. “An estimate of the yield of Cedrela odorata L.(Syn. C. mexicana Roem.) grown in association with coffee.” An estimate of the yield of Cedrela odorata L.(Syn. C. mexicana Roem.) grown in accociation with coffee.(1979): 177-183.
• Orwa C, A Mutua, Kindt R , Jamnadass R, S Anthony. 2009 Agroforestree Database: a tree association selection guideversion 4.0.
• Cintron, Barbara B. “Cedrela odorata L. Cedro hembra, Spanish cedar.” Silvics of North America654 (1990): 250.
• Ford, L. B. “An estimate of the yield of Cedrela odorata L.(Syn. C. mexicana Roem.) grown in accociation with coffee.” An estimate of the yield of Cedrela odorata L.(Syn. C. mexicana Roem.) grown in accociation with coffee.(1979): 177-183.