Photosynthesis, transpiration and water use efficiency of six (6) indigenous tree seedlings for two (2) years in a nursery in the Philippines

Ecophysiological assessment of seedlings of six (6) indigenous were conducted in the nursery for two years. Light compensation point ranges from 10 to 20 μmol m^-2 s^-1 which is in the boundary between shade and sun plants. A. thurifera and H. plagata consistently exhibited the highest photosynthetic rates, while S. almon and S. contorta had the lowest rates. Transpiration was relatively high from P. malaanonan, A. thurifera and H. plagata. Water use efficiency was high in A. thurifera, H. plagata and P. nodosa. The implications of the ecophysiological performance of the species to site selection (dry vs. moist sites), use of nurse trees and silvicultural treatments like thinning were explained. H. plagata and P. nodosa would have higher chances of survival and growth in drier sites than the other species. The rest of the species would require planting them in sites with high soil moisture or the provision of nurse trees temper evapo-transpiration in case of dry sites. The study showed the potential of using ecophysiological parameters in designing improved silvicultural management for indigenous trees in the Philippines for plantation development.