Density management diagram of Araucaria Uneven Aged Forest.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop the density management diagram of Araucaria Uneven Aged Forest, located in Lages city, SC. Plots with predominance of Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze trees growing under high competition were sampled in order to determine the basal area per hectare, the number of trees per hectare, mean basal area diameter, volume per hectare, dominant height and average height, applying the point density method proposed by Spurr (1962). The Reineke (1933) model was adjusted and had recalculated the intercept value to set the maximum density line. The average trading volume in the sample point was estimated with adjustment of Schumacher and Hall (1933) model modified. All models were evaluated for their adjustment statistics, accuracy and graphical analysis of residuals. Slope coefficient of the Reineke (1933) model was -1.5192, confirming the Law of -3/2 power of self-thinning. Management dendrograms developed for basal area, commercial volume in function of the number of trees per hectare and average diameter of basal area, can assist in forest operations, optimizing production according to the condition of the site and growth characteristics of the species.