Produtividade e incremento de Cabralea canjerana (Vell.) Mart., Cedrela fissilis Vell. e Cordia trichotoma (Vell.) Arrab. ex Steud., em floresta nativa no Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess the productivity and growth rate of three native species (Cabralea canjerana, Cedrela fissilis and Cordia trichotoma), with supposedly productive and economic potential, in unmanaged native forest fragments of Vale Vêneto district, in São João do Polêsine, a town in the central region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In 1994, 346 permanent observation plots were randomly installed by Durlo (1996) in the forests of Vale Vêneto. In these plots, there were, among other species, 146 Cabralea canjerana, 117 Cedrela fissilis and 46 Cordia trichotoma trees. The occurring species were identified around each of the selected trees; the diameter at breast height (DBH), the distance between neighboring trees (co-occurring species) and the selected ones (subject species), and basal area per hectare were measured; in addition, the site characteristics were described, and eight crown radii were measured in order to determine productivity. Between 1995 and 2003, the increments in DBH and in basal area (g), competition indices, and morphometric parameters were calculated for each of the three selected species. The model ig = f (a + b. dimension + c. competition + d. site + e. morphometry) was used to describe the increment in basal area. The dependence of increment upon competition was tested using competition indices. Easily determined site parameters were assessed around each selected tree, namely relief, slope gradient, stone cover, and cardinal direction. The morphometric parameters (crown ratio, degree of slenderness, saliency measure, range measure and crown formal measure were calculated using dimensional characteristics (DBH, total height, length, diameter, and eight crown radii). The major results show that the largest basal area increments were observed for Cedrela fissilis, Cabralea canjerana and Cordia trichotoma, respectively. However, this difference was not statistically confirmed. There was no significant difference in productivity across the analyzed species. The three species demonstrate a growing and regular basal area increment on an annual basis as their DBH increases. The inflection points of growth curves were not reached, which indicates the necessity of further research studies that include trees with larger DBH. The regression analysis allowed selecting the mathematical models that best describe the basal area increment and productivity of each species.