Paulownia furtunei is a fast-growing tree which under optimal conditions can produce useful timber in five to six years. The wood of this species has properties suited for a variety of applications. This species is highly adaptable with regard to planting site, and is widely distributed. Its natural distribution ranges from tropical through to temperate climates. P. furtunei is cultivated in many locations including in the Golestan Province of Northern Iran. To evaluate diameter and height growth potential of P. furtunei in Guilan in order to use this species in forest farming or cultivated forests with the purpose of rapid exploitation of timber in Guilan Province, an area of about 3000 m2 was selected in Shanderman Nursery and was planted at a 4 m by 4 m spacing. The diameter at breast height (dbh) and total height were measured after planting and again in the second and third year to estimate diameter and height growth potential and some important characteristics were analyzed. Growth measurements will be continued for at least five or six years. The dbh and height annual increment of P. fortunei were 3.24 cm and 1.88 m in the second year and 4.87 cm and 3.23 m in the third year, respectively. The mean dbh and annual height increment were 4.12 cm and 2.61 m up to the third year. A parabloid relationship between height and dbh was estimated. If the current growth rate continues, it seems that growth of P. fortunei in Guilan Province is suitable and comparable to its natural distribution areas

Hassanzad, Navroodi I.

Rostami, T.

University of Queensland eSpace

21. EVALUATION OF THE GROWTH POTENTIAL OF 
PAULOWNIA FURTUNEI IN GUILAN PROVINCE 
 
Navroodi I. Hassanzad  and T. Rostami 
 
 
Paulownia furtunei is a fast-growing tree which under optimal conditions can produce useful 
timber in five to six years. The wood of this species has properties suited for a variety of 
applications. This species is highly adaptable with regard to planting site, and is widely distributed. 
Its natural distribution ranges from tropical through to temperate climates. P. furtunei is cultivated 
in many locations including in the Golestan Province of Northern Iran. To evaluate diameter and 
height growth potential of P. furtunei in Guilan in order to use this species in forest farming or 
cultivated forests with the purpose of rapid exploitation of timber in Guilan Province, an area of 
about 3000 m2 was selected in Shanderman Nursery and was planted at a 4 m by 4 m spacing. The 
diameter at breast height (dbh) and total height were measured after planting and again in the 
second and third year to estimate diameter and height growth potential and some important 
characteristics were analyzed. Growth measurements will be continued for at least five or six 
years. The dbh and height annual increment of P. fortunei were 3.24 cm and 1.88 m in the second 
year and 4.87 cm and 3.23 m in the third year, respectively. The mean dbh and annual height 
increment were 4.12 cm and 2.61 m up to the third year. A parabloid relationship between height 
and dbh was estimated. If the current growth rate continues, it seems that growth of P. fortunei in 
Guilan Province is suitable and comparable to its natural distribution areas. 
  
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
Population growth and daily requirement for using wood and wood products with regard to wood 
shortage is a highly important issue today. Production of short-rotation species is one solution to 
overcome wood shortage. Development of plantations and establishment of an exotic species in a 
new region can also cause an increase in species diversity in the region. Sometimes exotic species 
have high growth performance in a new location (Zobel et al. 1987). With improvement in wood 
production by fast growing species, the pressure exerted on natural forest regarding wood 
utilization will be subdued. This is the method that is adopted in many countries.  
Paulownia furtunei is one of nine recognised species of the genus Paulownia (Jey 1998). Fast 
growth is an outstanding characteristic of these species (Zhu Zhao Hua et al. 1986). These species 
are similar in appearance and timber properties (Cheng Jueng Ching et al. 1983). Paulownia 
furtunei is a fast-growing tree and occurs naturally in China, Taiwan, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam 
(Van de Hoef 2003). This species has been cultivated in China for at least 3000 years (Hu 1959), and 
was introduced into Japan and Korea over 1000 years ago (Van de Hoef 2003) and into the United 
states in the 1800s (El-Showk and El-showk 2003). P. furtunei is currently being grown in 
plantations in Australian, and in fact has been widely promoted in Australia as a fast growing, 
short-rotation timber crop (Van de Hoef 2003). The Turkish Ministry of Forestry has been 
researching plantations production of P. furtunei since 1998 (Boydak 1999). This species has been 
cultivated in the Golestan Province in northern Iran and the growth in diameter and height has 
been at a satisfactory level (Abbasi 2000). 
This species is highly adaptable and widely distributed (Zhu Zhao Hua 1981). Its natural 
distribution ranges from tropical through to moderate climates, on sites with average annual 
rainfall ranging from 500 mm to over 2000 mm. It occurs from just above sea level up to an altitude 
of 2400 m. The growth of P. furtunei is strongly dependent on site conditions and trees may reach 
40−50 m in height and have a diameter of greater than 2 m when mature, although trees of this 
size under cultivation are rare. In the first year of growth, trees may reach 4−6 m in height, 
growing another 2−3 m in the second year. P. furtunei growth on favourable sites in China and 
Japan may be 10 m in height with a clear bole of 5m and diameter of 22 cm at breast height in four 
years. At these sites it is usual for trees to have a diameter of 45−50cm at 10 years of age, with 
production of 12 m3/ha/year (Van de Hoef 2003). In Yingang county, Szechuan Province of China, 
an 18 year old P. furtunei tree averages about 21.7 m height, has a dbh of 100.5 cm, and volume of 
6.65 m3 of timber, thereby having an annual increment of about 0.37 m3. As the Chinese say, ‘It 
Evaluation of the Growth Potential of Paulownia furtunei in Guilan Province 
looks like a pole in one year, an umbrella in three years and can be sawn into boards in five years’, 
(Zhu Zhao Hua et al. 1986).  
In China, P. furtunei adapts well both at low and high altitude. Diameter and height increments 
of five year old P. furtunei in Wu Guemy (Lat. N. 34º 26' Long. E 107º 42') are 2.9 cm and 1.9 m, 
respectively. P. furtunei can attain an annual average diameter increment of 3.4−4.2 cm on acid 
soil yet also grow well on soil with a pH of 8.8. At the Xiao Pu Forestry Farm, Chang Xing county, 
Checkiang Province, the trunk of 4-year old P. furtunei was 7 m in height and the dbh 21 cm. At an 
altitude of 600 m in En Shi County, Hupeh Province, 6-year old P. furtunei was 11 m height with a 
trunk height of 7 m and dbh of 22 cm (Zhu Zhao Hua et al. 1986). Other studies show that P. 
furtunei can be grown with succes in more than one region in Vietnam. The site conditions found to 
be suitable for its growth are: elevation ranging from 200 m to 1300 m above sea level; average 
annual temperature from 15.2 to 23.5 ºC; annual precipitation from 1391 to 2833 mm; and moist 
soils not severely degraded. Under these conditions, the species can yield a diameter growth of 
3.0−4.5 cm annually and a height growth of 2.5−3.0 m a year (Tran Quang Viet 2001). The growth in 
diameter and height of this species has been in satisfactory level in the Golestan Province in Iran 
(Abasi 2000). 
P. furtunei can withstand −5 ºC
 
 to 10 ºC
  temperature. The optimal temperature for growth is 
about 24−29 ºC as a daily mean. In China, maximum, minimum and mean temperatures for growth 
are 40, −10 and 15−23 ºC, respectively. Sufficient moisture is important for growth. The annual 
precipitation of extensive areas is 1200−2500 mm. P. furtunei is found mostly on light clay, sandy 
soils. P. furtunei grows on soils with 16.3−23.5% clay while the other Paulownia species are found 
on soils with less than 10% clay. On excessively clay soils, P. furtunei can grow well. A soil pH  of 
5.0−8.0 is most suitable for P. furtunei. It is tolerant of poor soil, but grows much better on fertile 
soils (Zhu Zhao Hua et al. 1986). Application of NPK fetilizer increases the growth rate (Jey 1998). 
Considering that this species has many uses and is very fast-growing, adaptable and widely 
distributed, it seems well-suited to forest farming or short-rotation plantations in Guilan Province. 
It is hypothesised that diameter and height growth of P. fortunei in Guilan will be similar to that in 
other locations, including China and Vietnam. Growth trials have been established to test this 
hypothesis. 
P. furtunei provides suitable wood for the manufacture of furniture, plywood and musical 
instruments. Paulownia timber was exported from China to Japan, where it was used to produce 
handicrafts. The wood is easily worked, suitable for carving, and has excellent insulation 
properties. This species is an exceptionally well-suited for intercropping, and can also be used in 
polyculture with other species. The leaves and flowers are rich in nitrogen and therefore serve as 
good fertilizer and fodder. They also have many medicinal uses, and the flowers of P. furtunei are 
a good resource for attracting honey bees (Zhu Zhao Hua et al.1986).  
The objectives of this study are to evaluate diameter and height growth potential in P. fortunei 
in the study area in comparison with its other natural distribution locations. Climatic and edaphic 
conditions in Guilan are similar to the distribution region of P. fortunei elsewhere in the world. 
Growth performance will be monitored in the coming years. If P. fortunei shows a suitable growth 
potential in Guilan, it could be cultivated as an alternative for sustainable forestry in cultivated 
forests or forest farming.  
 
RESEARCH METHOD 
 
The project was carried out in a nursary in the Shanderman district in western Guilan. The 
annual mean percipitation is 1958 mm, and the annual maximum, minimum and mean temperatures 
are 38.5, −11 and 15.6 ºC, respectively (Hassanzad 2000). In March 2003, P. fortunei seedlings 
collected from Gorgan in the Golestan Province (North Iran) were planted in an area of 3000 m². 
The dbh and height of all seedlings were measured immediately after planting, and again in the 
following March, when the survival rate was also determined. In the second and third years, the 
diameter and height growth and also percentage of survival of seedlings were again determined. 
The t-test was used to compare mean diameter and height growth in Paulownia fortunei between 
years and with other locations. 
 
 198
Improving the Triple Bottom line Returns from Small-scale Forestry 
 
RESULTS  
 
Diameter and Height Increment of Paulownia fortunei  
P. fortunei sapling diameter and height, and the mean increment of dbh and height growth, in 
Guilan Province are shown in Figures 1 to 3. About 14% of saplings died during the first three years 
after out-planting.   
0.94
3.57
12.1
8.53
0.31
2.64
D
B
H
< 1
.3
m
6.94
3.36
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Min.DBH Max.DBH Mean.DBH
Status of Paulownia  DBH
D
B
H
(c
m
)
First year Second year Third year
 
 
Figure 1. Status of Paulownia sapling DBH. 
 
 
3.1
7.7
6.19
0.99
2.28
0.23
2.87
5.35
1.19
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Min.Height Max.Height Mean.Height
Status of period height 
H
ei
gh
t (
m
)
First year Second year Third year
 
Figure 2. Status of Paulownia sapling height 
 
 
 199 
Evaluation of the Growth Potential of Paulownia furtunei in Guilan Province 
3.233.24
1.88
4.87
2.61
4.12
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Mean DBH increment Mean height increment
Increment
D
ia
m
et
er
(c
m
) a
nd
 h
ei
gh
t(
m
) 
in
cr
em
en
t
Second year Third year Mean annual increment
 
 
Figure 3. Status of diameter and height growth of Paulownia fortunei saplings. 
 
Relationship between Height and Diameter of P. fortunei 
The parabolic formula (H = −0.025* DBH2 + 0.9154* DBH + 0.1435) was estimated between height 
and diameter of planted P. fortunei in the study area, with R2 = 0.93 (Figure 4). 
 
y = -0.025x2 + 0.9154x + 0.1435
R2 = 0.93
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
DBH(cm)
Sa
pl
in
g 
he
ig
ht
(m
)
 
Figure 4. Height versus DBH curve of P. fortunei in the study area 
 
Paired samples t-test was used to study the relationship between diameter and height increment 
of P. fortunei between second and third years (Tables 1 and 2). One-sample t-tests were used to 
compare mean diameter and height growth of P. fortunei in Guilan with other locations. The results 
are reported in Tables 3 and 4.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 200
Improving the Triple Bottom line Returns from Small-scale Forestry 
 
Table 1. Paired samples test for study the status of diameter increment of P. fortunei between 
second and third years.  
 
Paired differences 
95% confidence 
interval of the 
difference 
Paired samples test 
 
 
 
 
Mean 
 
 
 
Std. 
deviation 
 
 
Std. 
error 
mean Lower Upper 
 
 
 
 
 
t 
 
 
 
 
 
df 
 
 
 
Sig. 
2-
tailed 
Pair 1   DBH incr. in  
2nd Yr-DBH incr. in 
3rd yr 
1.4998 1.8254 .2318 1.0363 1.9634 6.470 61 .000 
 
 
Table 2. Paired samples test for study the status of height increment of P. fortunei between 
second and third years.  
 
Paired differences 
95% confidence 
interval of the 
difference 
Paired samples test 
 
 
 
 
Mean 
 
 
 
Std. 
deviation 
 
 
Std. 
error 
mean 
Lower Upper 
 
 
 
 
 
t 
 
 
 
 
 
df 
 
 
 
Sig. 
2-
tailed 
Pair 1   Hi incr. in 
2nd Yr-Hi incr. in 
3rd Yr 
 
-123.854 
 
101.985 
 
12.952 
 
-149.754 
 
-97.955 
 
-9.563 
 
61 
 
.000 
 
 
Table 3. One-sample test for comparing mean diameter increment of P. fortunei in the study area 
with its natural distribution areas. 
 
Test value = 3.75 
95% confidence interval of the 
difference 
One-sample test 
 
 
t 
 
 
df 
 
 
Sig. 
(2-tailed) 
 
 
Mean 
difference 
Lower Upper 
Mean diameter 
increment 
 
2.618 
 
61 
 
.011 
 
.3707 
 
8.753E-02 
 
.6539 
 
 
Table 4. One-samples test comparing mean height increment of P. fortunei in the study area and 
its natural distribution areas. 
 
Test value = 275 
95% confidence interval of the 
difference 
One-sample test 
 
 
t 
 
 
df 
 
 
Sig. 
(2-tailed) 
 
 
Mean 
difference 
Lower Upper 
Mean height 
increment 
 
-1.893 
 
61 
 
.063 
 
-13.6855 
 
-28.1414 
 
.7704 
 
 
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION 
 
Analysis of data show that there are significant differences at the 1% level between diameter and 
height increment of P. fortunei in the second and third years after out-planting. The level of 
diameter increment of P. fortunei in the second year is greater than that of the third year and the 
level of height increment of P. fortunei in the second year is less than in the third year (Tables 1 
and 2). There are no significant differences at 1% level between diameter and height growth of P. 
 201 
Evaluation of the Growth Potential of Paulownia furtunei in Guilan Province 
fortunei in the study area with its natural distribution areas in other location of world. But 
between diameter growth of P. fortunei in the study area with its natural distribution areas in 
other location of world, there are differences at 5% significance level (Tables 3 and 4). The level of 
dbh and height increment of P. fortunei in the study area is slightly more than in its natural 
distribution areas.  
The average diameter increments of this species were 3.24 and 4.87 cm in the second and third 
years respectively, and its dbh annual increment averaged 4.12 cm. The mean height increments 
were 1.88 and 3.23 m in the second and third years respectively, and the annual height increment 
averaged 2.61m. 
The average diameter of P. fortunei in the first year was 0.33 cm while this diameter reached 
3.57 cm in the second year and 8.53 cm in the third year, representing an 11-fold increase in the 
second year and a further 2.5-fold increase in the third year. The average height of Paulownia in 
the first year was 0.96 m and reached 2.87 m in the second year, a 3-fold increase . The average 
height of saplings in the third year reached 6.19 m, a 2-fold increase relative to the second year. 
These observations demonstrate that growth increments of P. fortunei are satisfactory in the 
second and third years. Considering that the increment level of this species was suitable at the end 
of third year and it can produce useful timber within five to six years, it seems that the growth of 
P. fortunei in Guilan Province is succesful at least until the third year. The studies also show that 
this species is highly adaptable and widely distributed. Its natural distribution ranges from tropical 
through moderate climates, on sites with average annual rainfal ranging from 500 mm to over 2000 
mm. It occurs from just above sea level up to an altitude of 2400 m. P. furtunei can withstand −5 
ºC to 10 ºC temperatures.  
The studies show that site conditions of P. fortunei in the study area are similar to its natural 
distribution areas in other parts of the world. In the study area, the annual maximum, minimum 
and mean temperature are 38.5, −11 and 15.6 ºC, respectively, the mean annual precipitation is 
1200−2500 mm and the soil pH is 6.0−7.0. In the natural sites of P. fortunei in China, maximum, 
minimum and mean temperature for growth are 40, −10 and 15−23 ºC, respectively and the suitable 
pH of the soil is 5.0−8.0. 
Paulownia furtunei is one of nine recognised species of the genus Paulownia and fast growth is 
an outstanding characteristic of these species. This species also has high growth potential in the 
study area and shows no significant differences in its natural distribution. It seems that because the 
conditions of the study area are similar to that of the natural distribution areas of P. furtunei, 
satisfactory results will be obtained over the next few years. Evidence of this is the fact that this 
species has been cultivated in the Golestan Province in northern Iran and the growth in diameter 
and height has been of a satisfactory level.  
This species has been widely promoted in Australia as a fast growing, short-rotation timber crop 
and could therefore also be regarded as a suitable alternative for sustainable forestry in cultivated 
forests in the Guilan Province for the rapid exploitation of timber and decreasing the pressure on 
natural forests. 
  
REFERENCES  
 
Abbasi, N. (2000), Growth and adaptability of Paulownia fortunei, Book of abstracts of the National 
Conference on Management of Northern Forest on Sustainable Development, 5−7 September 2000, 
Ramsar, Iran.  
Boydak, M. (1999), ‘Can Paulownia become a miracle species?’, Turkish Journal of Forestry Engineering, 
9, p. 4−9, Ankara.    
Cheng Jueng Ching, (1983), ‘Research on the wood properties and utilization of the genus Paulownia’, 
Forestry Science in China, 19, No. 1−3.  
El-Showk, S. and El-showk, N. (2003), The Paulownia tree; An alternative for sustainable forestry, Crop 
Development, Morocco, pp. 1−8. 
Hassanzad Navroodi, I. (2000), A Survey on Quantity and Quality of Growing Stock Changes of Natural 
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Hu, S.Y. (1959), A Monograph of the Genus Paulownia, Taiwan Musem XII, No. 1 and 2. 
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fortunei: Forest Science and Technology Research Results, 1996−2000. 
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Victoria state, Department of Primary Industries, Box Hill, Melbourne, Australia, pp. 1−3. 
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Improving the Triple Bottom line Returns from Small-scale Forestry 
 
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Evaluation of the growth potential of Paulownia furtunei in Guilan Province

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Evaluation of the growth potential of Paulownia furtunei in Guilan Province

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