Effect of mineral fertilization and planting density in the dendrometric characteristics of fast-growing eucalypt plantations

Abstract

To achieve a greater nutritional balance in eucalyptus plantations carried out in the short-rotation forestry (SRF), this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different planting spacings (planting densities of 1429 trees ha(-1) to 7142 trees ha(-1)) and three fertilizing regimes (D1 - 25% of the commercial dose, D2 - 50% of the commercial dose and D 3 - commercial dose) in the dendrometric characteristics and the competition index among trees of hybrid clone plantations of Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus grandis at two years old. After adjusted the Weibull function two parameters, it was observed a higher frequency of trees in the upper diametric classes with an increase of the vital area of tree and fertilization dose, which indicated a lower competition between the trees, this behavior was corroborated by the higher relative spacing index found. The treatment with 3571 trees ha(-1) (2.8 m x 1.0 m) and half of the commercial dose traditionally practiced in the eucalypt plantations would be the one with the highest nutritional sustainability.