Silvicultural and Productive Performances of Eucalypt under Different Spatial Arrangements in Agrosilvipastoral System

Abstract

Eucalypt wood production is associated with a long cutting cycle, wide spacing and specific silvicultural treatments, and allows intercropping with grain and forage producing species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the silvicultural and productive performances of eucalypt under different arrangements in agrosilvipastoral system. Clonally propagated E. camaldulensis x E. urophylla hybrid was planted in the Brazilian savanna. The plants were intercropped with rice (first year of planting), soybean (second year) and Brachiaria brizantha pasture (following years). The experimental design was randomized blocks with 11 treatments (11 arrangements of eucalypt) and five replications, with plots splitted along of the time (18, 27, 38 and 51 months after planting). There was no treatment effect in wood volume of eucalypt trees until 18 months after planting. Wood volume was greater in the larger spacings 27 months after planting. From month 38 on, diameter at breast height showed to be positively affected by the available area to each tree. Until the fourth year, the arrangements 3.33 m x 2 m, 3.33 m x 3 m and 5 m x 2 m are indicated to quantity production wood, while 10 m x 3 m e 10 m x 4 m are indicated to produce major size wood.