Diameter, height and volume growth of Hovenia dulcis in south Blumenau, SC

Abstract

Japanese Raisin Tree (Hoveniadulcis Thunberg) is a widely spread species in South Brazil, but information on its growing patterns is rare. The aim of this work is to evaluate, through stem analysis, the diameter, height and volume growth of Hovenia dulcis in South Blumenau. Two trees were sampled, and their total height was measured. Discs were taken at 0.1 m, 0.7 m, 1.3 m. and at one-meter intervals along the length of the tree, until the minimum of 5 cm of diameter. The information on diameter, height and volume in function of the age were used to calculate the current and the mean annual increment. The diameter growth remained practically constant, until 20 years, without any definition of a peak of increment. The height growth presented decreasing rates, with a peak of current increment occurring in the fifth year and a peak of average annual increment in the eleventh year. The volume growthpresented increasing rates as result of the constant diameter growth. The artificial form factor followed a decreasing  tendency until the thirteenth year and established since that moment.