Growth of Pinus taeda at early age as function of the growing space

Abstract

It was evaluated the growth of four years old Pinus taeda L. planted at nine different spacings (1.0 x 1.0; 2.0 x 1.0; 2.0 x 2.0; 3.0 x 2.5; 3.0 x 3.0; 3.0 x 3.5; 4.0 x 3.0; 4.0 x 3.5; 4.0 x 4.0 m), simulating vital spaces ranging from 1 m² to 16 m². The trial was established in 2002 with seedlings of Pinus taeda L. originated from a clonal seed orchard. It was used randomized blocks with five replications, each plot with 25 seedlings, excluding a border line. There were no significant correlation between growing space and height or between growing space and DBH. The diameter of branches was correlated with growing space. Positive correlations were obtained between height and DBH and between branch diameter and DBH. Tree height ranged from 4.08 m to 4.60 m and the DBH from 5.65 cm e 7.69 cm and there were no significant differences for both variables. The growing space affected branch growth. Larger growing spaces resulted in larger branch diameter. Branch diameters ranged from 11.45 mm to 19.01 mm.