ABSTRACT
Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) is globally renowned as one of the most valuable hardwood species, prized for its heartwood's quality, attractiveness and durability. This study aims to evaluate the influence of site quality on teak growth and productivity in the Yellapur and Haliyal Forest Divisions of Uttara Kannada District, with a focus on site qualities III and IV. Key biometric parameters, including total height, DBH (diameter at breast height), clear bole height, basal area and total volume, were measured alongside annual ring analysis to assess growth patterns. Results showed that superior site quality (SQ-III) significantly enhances growth. In Yellapur, SQ-III trees reached an average height of 19.30 m compared to 15.45 m in SQ-IV, while Haliyal’s SQ-III trees grew to 18.20 m with 14.84 m in SQ-IV. DBH was notably higher in SQ-III for Yellapur (33.40 cm) comparatively lower DBH (26.48 cm) for SQ-IV in Yellapur but showed no significant difference in Haliyal. Volume per hectare favoured SQ-III, with Yellapur at 179.16 m³ ha⁻¹ and Haliyal at 168.20 m³ ha⁻¹. Biomass and carbon sequestration potential were also greater in SQ-III. Annual ring analysis indicated no significant growth rate variation between site qualities, with rates between 0.20 to 0.23 cm year⁻¹ across both divisions. However, the ring width index was positively correlated with annual rainfall (0.396 in Yellapur and 0.423 in Haliyal) with very weak positive correlation with mean annual temperature (0.053 in Yellapur and 0.142 in Haliyal), indicating that rainfall significantly influences teak growth, demonstrating the influence of precipitation on teak growth. This study underscores the importance of site quality and climate in determining teak productivity, offering insights for sustainable forest management.