Field Visit to Nelder Wheel Teak Trial — Luang Prabang Province

On 14 July 2026, the VALTIP4 project team (ACIAR FST/2023/153), led by the Project Leader together with project researchers, visited an experimental teak plantation in Luang Prabang province, designed using the Nelder Wheel planting system — a research design widely used in forestry science to study tree growth.

🔎 What is a Nelder Wheel?
📌 A circular planting design with trees arranged in concentric rings, where spacing gradually increases from the center outward
📌 It allows researchers to study the effect of planting density on tree growth, form, and wood quality within a single trial site — instead of needing multiple separate plots
📌 A valuable tool for identifying optimal planting spacing to produce high-quality teak with the best economic returns

During the visit, the team assessed tree growth, collected measurement data and met with the plantation owner to inform ongoing research under VALTIP4, which aims to promote sustainable teak cultivation and add value across Laos’s timber value chain 🇱🇦

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