Productivity of clones eucalypts at different management systems for purposes of energy

Abstract

The region of the Araripe Gypsum Pole in the state of Pernambuco is the largest producer of plaster in Brazil, and its main energy source for producing plaster is the wood from Caatinga, which provides not enough wood for the demand of gypsum industries, resulting in deforestation and compromising the sustainability of the region. One option to supply that demand is the implementation of fast growing forests. This study aimed to evaluate the volumetric growth of three clones of Eucalyptus spp., conducted under the regimes of high forest and coppice, planted with a spacing of 3x2 m. The experiment was carried out at the Experimental Station of the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco, in Araripina, PE, Brazil. Height and circumference at 1.30 m above soil level were measured of all trees every six months from ages of 24 to 42 months, and volumes were calculated assuming a form factor of 0.51. Data of repeated measures were analyzed by multivariate analysis. Clone C39 (E. urophylla hybrid, natural crossing) was the most productive in both management systems.