st1a-1-1: the environmental conditions for natural distribution of paper mulberry...

ST1A-1-1: The Environmental Conditions for Natural Distribution of Paper Mulberryin Thailand

Veerasak Udomchoke,1 Yupa Mongkolsook1, Wikhan Anapanurak1, Maliwan Thanasombat1

and Krongjit Kasjinda1

ABSTRACTThe environmental conditions for the natural distribution of paper mulberry in northern and

northeastern Thailand were determined for different landform, soil conditions and climatic conditions.The climatic conditions of the study areas were influenced mainly by the northeast and southwestmonsoons. Distribution of paper mulberry across the northern and northeastern regions suggests thatclimatic conditions at the study sites are not a major environmental factor for the natural distributionof paper mulberry. Paper mulberry can grow on many kinds of soil and is able to tolerate a wide rangeof conditions, pH range 4.9 to 8.1, available phosphorus more than 104 ppm and available potassium40 - 500 ppm, available calcium and magnesium between 680 to 5,700 ppm. It is therefore clear thatsoil conditions are also not the major environmental factor for the natural distribution of papermulberry. The chemical composition of the bark was the same between sites.

The specific habitat of paper mulberry is the limiting factor in establishing a pure stand forpaper mulberry planting area.

INTRODUCTIONPaper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent.), a broad leaf fast growing tree, is

classified in the Moraceae family in Thailand, is found disturbed in moist mixed deciduous forest,along the creeks and banks of rivers. Paper mulberry has been used in Thailand as a raw material inhand paper making for a long time. Today, demand for paper mulberry is rapidly increasing, resultingin the importation of a large amount of imported paper mulberry inner bark from Laos (PDR) and

1Kasetsart Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Product Improvement Institute (KAPI), Kasetsart University,Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Final ReportThe Research Project for Higher Utilization of Forestry and Agricultural Plant Materials in Thailand (HUFA)

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Myanmar. Thailand is not able to produce enough. It is therefore necessary to know how to increasethe quality and production of the paper mulberry as well as how to encourage farmers to undertakeextensive agroforestry farming. Selection of paper mulberry varieties under environmental factors foreach site may be a major strategy to improve productivity and profitability. Farmers can beencouraged to partake in agroforestry plantation systems with the direct outcome of better income andindirect outcome of environmental improvement.

OBJECTIVESResearch was undertaken to determine the environmental conditions that control distribution

of paper mulberry in Thailand, by:1) Identifying and collecting samples of different varieties of paper mulberry in northern

and northeastern Thailand based on soil properties, topography, landform and climaticconditions.

2) Study the physical and chemical properties of paper mulberry in order to identify theinter-intra relationships between the most optimal variety and selected site.

3) Analyse the behaviour of each varieties of paper mulberry in each environmentalconditions.

PREVIOUS STUDIESPaper mulberry (Brousonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent.) is classified in the family Moraceae. Its

vernacular name in Thailand is po krasaa or po sa. Phengklai and Khamsai (1985) described B.`papyrifera as a fast growing shrub or small tree. In Thailand, paper mulberry exists as gregarious treedisturbed in areas of moist mixed deciduous forests along streams banks in valleys and floodplain overthe country. Such forests, in Thailand, are seasonal controlled and contain a mixture of deciduous andevergreen plants. Paper mulberry requires direct light, tolerates a wide range of water as well as soiland temperature conditions. Paper mulberry withstands heat and dust and is drought resistant.However, it will not grow in all soil conditions and requires protection from wind. The environmental


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requirements for natural breeding and dispersal by paper mulberry are not well known. Male andfemale flowers are in separate trees and its pollen is dispersed by wind (Matthews, 1996).

The bark of paper mulberry is the most important material for hand papermaking. In theNorthern Thailand, many villages are engaged in papermaking with B. papyrifera. In villagespapermaking is the major form of family income. At the same time, B. papyrifera is used as a rawmaterial in the paper industry sector (Shinya, 1998). In 1995, total demand of paper mulberry inThailand was approximately 68,000 T but now only 4,700 T can supplied in the marketing system andmost paper mulberry used in Thailand is imported from Laos (Supapornhemin, 1996). In Thailandthere are 4 well-known species of paper mulberry ; B. papyrifera, B. kurzii, B. kazinoki and B.kaempferi (Phetcharaburanin and Sirichanthana, 1983).

MATERIALS AND METHODSVarieties of paper mulberry which are highly productive and attract a good price were

selected from different regions in Thailand, in order to analyze the effect of landform, topography,climatic conditions and soil properties (from floodplain up to the high mountain in term of crosssection with elevation) on their intra relationships in between varieties to the effect of theenvironmental factors. The inter-relationships of each variety that were of advantage and disadvantagein each environmental condition were compared. The major physical and chemical properties wereanalysed using standard methods to support the comparison and analysis of inter and intra-relationships between variety and environmental conditions.

RESULTSResults of the research on environmental conditions for paper mulberry distribution in

Thailand comprised of the distribution behaviour of paper mulberry, growth and succession behaviour,chemical and physical properties of proper paper mulberry barks are as follows:


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Figure 1. Locations of the selected site in the Northern (left) and in the Northeastern (right)

Distribution behaviourPaper mulberry of all varieties was found in the moist soil area along creeks and river banks

in the floodplain area and in sloping areas. Paper mulberry was also found on the terrace of gravellysoil and lateristic soil, the undulating terrain of terrace topography at the footslope of the mountains innorthern and northeastern areas between the floodplain and undulating terrain in the northeastern(Figure 2).

Figure 2. Paper mulberry can distributively grow up in the moist area even though in rockysoil

Topographic conditionPaper mulberry was also found, both in the undulating terrain and rolling topography, but

also in the moist soil area along creeks and moist valleys. Valley orientation in the mountainous areawas also an important factor influencing distribution of paper mulberry due to light intensity. Paper


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mulberry was found in valleys of east-west alignment more sun than in the north-south alignment.Paper mulberry was also found on high mountains at elevations greater than 1,800 m, this despite thelow temperature (Figure 3).

Lithologic conditionsPaper mulberry grows on many types of soil and rock. Sandy soil on high mountain, clay soil

in the floodplain area, silt sand on the terrace terrain, sandy clay on the rugged terrain. Growth is also supported on sandy loam, loamy sand and sandy clay loam texture of the hilly terrain area (see Figure 4). A broad range of soil properties can support paper mulberry growth. Paper mulberry can grow on a wide range of soil conditions, pH in the range 4.9 to 8.1, wide variation of organic matter content, between 1.5% to 5.8%. This plant requires a high level of phosphorus (more than 104 ppm.) and potassium should range between 40 - 500 ppm. Calcium and magnesium requirements vary between 680 to 5,700 ppm (Table 1).

Figure 3. Paper mulberry can grow up on the high mountain (left) and on the opened hillyterrain

Climatic conditionsClimatic conditions of the selected sites were influenced mainly by the northeast and

southwest monsoons. The mean annual rainfall ranged between 1,200 to 1,400 mm with maximumrainfall in September and minimum in January. Mean annual temperatures of both regions werebetween 25.5°C and 25.6°C, respectively, the maximum temperature was in April and minimum


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temperature in December. Mean annual relative humidity of the study areas was about 73% in both thenorth and northeast. Differences in the climatic region of north and northeast are shown in Figure 5.

Chemical analysis resultsResults of the chemical analysis on bark of natural paper mulberry at different sites are

shown in Table 2. Each were characterized by: lignin content of the natural paper mulberry’s barkranges between 3.5 – 6.15%, holocellulose content was high between 82.96 to 87.38 %, ash contentwas low 2.96% to 4.55%.

Table 1. Physical and chemical properties of soils from each selected sites

Selected sitelocations pH Sand

(%)Silt(%)

Clay(%) Texture

Organicmatter

(%)

Phosphoruscontent(ppm)

Potassiumcontent(ppm)

Calciumcontent(ppm)

Magnesiumcontent(ppm)

Ban Huai Na,Amphoe Wangchin(FP)

5.6 21 30 49 C 2.6 6 100 1200 300

Tambon Wangchin,Phrae (HT) 5.5 43 26 31 CL 3 11 80 720 180

Ban Mae SinJunction (FP) 6.5 29 20 51 C 1.9 3 50 1840 370

Huai Sai Toon,Phrae (HT) 5.7 47 16 37 SC 0.6 4 50 1080 390

Huai Gaet, Phrae(HM) 8.1 59 16 25 SCL 4.5 84 270 5700 200

Bo Kaew, Nan (HT) 4.9 57 24 19 SL 1.6 7 20 680 100Ban Rai Praiwan,Phayao (UT) 6.4 35 28 37 CL 3 32 120 1320 230

Chiang Kham,Phayao (UT) 7.7 55 12 33 SCL 2.8 53 210 3100 225

Khun Kong, ChiangMai (HM) 6.7 69 22 9 SL 5.8 31 220 1560 360

Note:HM = High Mountain Terrain HT = Hilly Terrain UT = Undulating Terrain FP = Floodplain


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Figure 4. Paper mulberry can grow up very well in moist sandy soil (left) as well as lateristic soil (right)

Figure 5. Climatic regions of northern and northeastern ThailandTropical Monsoon Climate with Long Rainy SeasonB4 = with moderate to high rainfall and cool dry seasonB5 = mountainous with cool dry season in valleysTropical Monsoon Climate with Rainy and Dry SeasonC1 = with moderate to high rainfallC2 = with low rainfallC3 = with low rainfall and cool dry seasonTropical Monsoon Climate with Long Dry SeasonD1 = with low rainfall


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Table 2. Chemical analysis on bark of natural paper mulberryRaw material chemical composition (percentage base on ovendry weight )

Selected site locations Alcohol-benzene

Solubility

Alcoholsolubility

Hot watersolubility

Totalextractive

1% NaOHsolubility Ash Lignin

Holocellulose

Ban Huai Na, AmphoeWangchin (FP)

4.21 2.12 17.27 23.6 35.54 3.09 5.1 83.79

Tambon Wangchin, Phrae(HT)

14.33 4.77 3.94 23.04 3.63 5.21 86.5

Huai Sai Toon, Phrae (HT) 8.09 3.37 6.81 18.27 36.84 4.55 5.57 85.45Huai Gaet, Phrae (HM) 3.74 2.47 18.2 24.41 39.56 2.97 3.97 87.38Bo Kaew, Nan (HT) 1.8 2.1 17.17 21.07 34.9 2.96 4.92 87.22Ban Rai Praiwan, Phayao(UT)

9.03 2.53 13.6 25.16 40.37 3.76 4.1 86.38

Chiang Kham, Phayao (UT) 9.47 2.97 14.28 26.72 42.97 3.63 3.5 85.3Khun Kong, Chiang Mai(HM)

9.63 4.93 8.41 22.97 39.82 3.72 6.15 82.96

Growth and succession behaviorGrowth and succession behavior of paper mulberry pioneer species in exposed areas was

good. Very good succession of paper mulberry from the parent tree by their stolons was observed (Figure 6). Strong stolon’s grow effectively along the underground shoot. Keeping the parent tree, but cutting the stolon shoot is a good conservation practice to manage the paper mulberry plantation program.


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Figure 6. The radially distribute of paper mulberry’s stolon 30 m around the parent tree

CONCLUSIONPaper mulberry can grow in all climatic conditions as well as on many types of soil, including

floodplain, terrace, hilly landform and high mountain. Paper mulberry grows well in the moist areaalong the bank of the creek and in the valley of moist soil. Parent trees of paper mulberry distributetheir stolon 30 m radially. The strong stolon grows effectively along the underground shoot and thepoorer shoot is inhibited. Chemical analyses of natural paper mulberry bark collected at the differentsites were the same.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe authors wish to gratefully thank The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and

The Kasetsart Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Product Improvement Institute (KAPI) and The Research and Development Institute for Agricultural Systems under Adverse Conditions for supporting staffs and facilities to carry out this research work.

REFERENCESMatthews, P. J. 1996. Ethnobotany and the origins of Broussonetia papyrifera in Polynesia: an essay

on Tapa prehistory. New Zealand J. Archeol. Special publication. pp. 117-132.


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Phengklai, C. and S. Khamsai. 1985. Some non-timber species of Thailand. Thai Forest Bulletin.15:108-48.

Phetcharaburanin, C. and A. Sirichanthana. 1993. History of varietal improvement in paper mulberry.Cited by Ammaritsut, V. Po-sa. Agriculture Development Center in Northeast Thailand. p.13. (in Thai).

Shinya, T. 1998. Production and utilization of paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) in Thailand,Burma and Laos (draft). Reserch Project for Higher Utilization of Forestry and AgriculturalPlant Material. KU-KAPI-JICA. p. 11.

Supapornhemin, P. 1996. Production technology of sa paper mulberry (brief). Chiangmai Field CropsResearch Center, Field Crops Research Institute, Department of Agriculture, Ministry ofAgricultural and Cooperatives. p. 4. (in Thai).

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