GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF EURYCOMA LONGIFOLIA ON TWO DIFFERENT BRIS SOIL SERIES AT SETIU, TERENGGANU

A study was conducted to compare the growth performance of Eurycoma longifolia which were interplanted with Acacia manguim, Acacia auriculiformis and Acacia hybrid stands at two different BRIS soil namely Rhu Tapai and Rhu Dua in Setiu, Terengganu. This is a first agroforestry project where commercial timber species were intercropped with a valuable herbal plant, Tongkat Ali (E. longifolia) on poor sandy soil. A promising growth rates were obtained for E. Longifolia grown on both soil types. An average height and diameter obtained at Rhu Dua were 0.86 m and 14.80 cm respectively while for Rhu Tapai soil types were 0.77 m and 14.76 cm respectively. Similarly, the average root length and root dry weight for Rhu Dua were 3.25 m and 11.87 g while at Rhu Tapai soil type were 2.99 m and 11.42 g respectively. The results indicates that there is a potential of exploit and developinging BRIS soils for commercial cultivation of E. longifolia with other commercial timber species.