Effect of deformation and root pruning of eucalyptus cuttlings on the growth in the field.

Abstract

The effect of root deformation (bends, spiraling and strangling) and root pruning in two clones (11 and 20) of Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla grown in tubes were evaluated. The cuttings were graded in three classes: 0 (absence of deformation); 1 (presence of 1 to 3 deformations) and 2 (4 to 6 deformations). The cuttings were submitted to pruning: apical (removal of 3 cm of the clod botton), lateral (removal of 2mm of the surface of the clod) and pruning absence. In the field the experiment was set up according to the Randomized Block Design, with 4 replicates with 20 seedlings. The plants were evaluated in height (2, 3, 9 and 14 months), diameter at the ground level (2 and 3 months) and DHC (9 and 14 months). Nine and 14 months after the planting, dry mass of the stem (MSPA) and dry root mass (MSSR) where evaluated. The results showed no difference in height growth, diameter and biomass production of the plants. The clone 11 presented higher production of dry mass of the root system, leaves and branches. No difference was found out in wood and bark production between the clones. The application of pruning in the roots seedlings didn't stimulate the growth differentiated in relation to the not pruned, independent of the observed deformations.