Influence of soil physical characteristics on growth of Pinus taeda growth

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess variability of Pinus taeda L. growth in function of the soil physical characteristics. The soils data were obtained from a detailed mapping, in the scale 1:10,000, in two areas of the Forest Company - Battistella Florestal, located in the states of Santa Catarina and Parana. Data on forestry growth was collected from continuous forest inventory, obtained from a population growing on an area of 2,252 ha. On a commercial Pinus taeda plantation 28 plots (CFIP) were selected with trees of different growing rate and they were divided in two similar groups of different ages: 12 and 13/14 years. Sites with older trees and soil with greater clay content showed trees with greater annual mean increment. There was a positive correlation among tree wood volume, soil macroporosity and aeration porosity on both soil depths, mainly for sites with trees of 12 years of age. Correlation among tree wood volume and soil microporosity, actual soil moisture and available soil moisture was negative, probably due to slower soil drainage on an area with no drought periods. Soils with similar contentes of clay and sand were more productive.

doi: 10.4336/2010.pfb.30.61.37