Guide for the management of density of Eucalyptus forest plantations in the Carmen Rivero Torres Municipality, Santa Cruz - Bolivia

Abstract

The last decade the management of forest plantations in the Municipality of Carmen Rivero Torres, Department of Santa Cruz has focused on the establishment of Eucalyptus stands, which are fastgrowing exotic species with a high economic value. The rapid growth of Eucalyptus requires proper density management to plan thinning tasks and optimize technical cycles. This parameter is a reliable indicator of the degree of occurrence of trees in a specific place and time, and is one  of the few variables that represents in a simple and objective way the structure of forest areas. In order to develop the Reineke Stand Density Index methodology a density guide for Eucalyptus plantations has been developed in the private properties of El Recreo, San Crispín and Las Lajitas. In these sites, data from 8.97 ha was gathered and analyzed with approximately 1000 established trees per hectare considered as complete initial density. In addition, in order to define the Crown Competition Factor, 75 isolated individual trees were measured. In the construction of the density guide the maximum density line or Reineke’s IDRR level “A” was determined. This resulted a value of 956.01 trees at a quadratic diameter of 25 cm, whereas for isolated trees, the FCC or the minimum density “B” line resulted a value of 318.92 trees for the same quadratic diameter. With the generated guide, quantitative indexes were related allowing to compare the degree of density and dasometric variables in Eucalyptus stands. This analysis allows us to suggest its application for thinning and to expect better productivity when the stand has reached its rotation, independently of age and site quality.