Effect of silvicultural management and type of crown on basic density of Eucalyptus nitens

Abstract

This research was curried out in the 8^th region andean lower part in Chile and aim to analyze the effect of silvicultural management about Eucalyptus nitens basic density variation. The study was based on a 10 year-old stand which was pruned and thinned at the age of 30 months, evaluating different pruning intensity and thinning density. It was also studied, in every defined treatment, the effect produced by different types of crown on the basic density behavior. The total sample consisted on 36 trees from which 7 different discs were obtained and every one had different: trunk height, being finally calculated their basic density. The results determined that thinning affected the basic density and non-intervened stands presented a minor average basic density than those intervened; on the other hand, those plots with pruning presented the lowest average for this variable. The dominant crown presented a higher basic density than the co-dominant and suppressed one respectively. Concerning wood density in relation to the sample trunk height, this tended to increase from the buton to the tip even though it presented a small decrease in the first sections of the tree.