Evaluation of eucalypt clones in Ponta Porã, Mato Grosso do Sul State Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate eucalypt commercial clones in Ponta Porã region, located in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. Two clonal tests were established in 2009. Each field trial consisted of five clones (AEC 144, AEC 224, GG 100, 58 and 1277) and three commercial seed checks (Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus urophylla and the hybrid Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus grandis). The experiments were designed as randomized blocks, with four replicates and square plots containing 25 (trial 1) and 16 plants (trial 2), at the spacing of 3 m x 3 m. At the age of 51 months, the circumference at breast height and the total height were assessed. From the collected data, we estimated the volume of wood per tree. We also carried out some phenotypic analysis based on silvicultural traits. The clones AEC 144 and AEC 224 exhibited the best performance for volume of wood. The use of these clones in commercial stands will make possible good productive, if adequate silvicultural techniques are applied.