Abstract

The article presents final results of a 6-year screening trial carded out in central Chile comparing the adaptability and growth rates of 38 woody legume trees or shrubs mainly originating in the Chaco savanna region of southern South America, and two non-legumes of western European origin, Quercus suber (cork oak) and European ash (Fraxinus excelsior). Introductory plots, containing 28 individuals of each species, were established in the subhumid mediterranean climate, inner drylands (secano interior), of south-central Chile (35°58'S 72°17'W, mean annual precipitation 695 mm, concentrated in the seven coldest months of the year). After 6 years, only three species showed excellent growth and survival (>86%) rates, and none of these was from the Chaco region: Acacia decurrens (Australia), Fraxinus excelsior (Europe), and Chamaecytisus proliferus subsp. palmensis (Tagasaste) from La Palma, Canary Islands. These latter two species were the fastest growing, yielding large quantities of edible and N-rich forage (4406±1650 and 223.0±137.4 kg ha -1 year -1, respectively). E excelsior also showed high potential as a source of a high quality wood for turning or cabinetry. Unexpectedly, the principal cause of mortality among the 38 species tested was frost rather than drought or acid soils. Many species in the legume genera Anadenanthera, Caesalpinia, Enterolobium, Faidherbia, Gleditsia and Prosopis performed poorly. Results are discussed in the context of a long-term ecological rehabilitation project based on agroforestry development and innovation for the Chilean secano interior.