Eucalypt clone modelling in agrosilvopastoral systems

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate height-diameter, volumetric, and taper models to estimate the height, volume, and bole profile of trees of eucalypt clones (Eucalyptus grandis * Eucalyptus urophylla) in an agrosilvopastoral system. Data were collected from permanent plots in an eight year-old agrosilvopastoral system, composed by three eucalypt clones (VE01, VE06, and VE07), located in the municipality of Coronel Xavier Chaves, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Two height-diameter, three volumetric, and four taper models were fit to the data of each clone and compared to each other, in order to select the best-fitting one. The equations fitted well to the observed data, and those of the models of Campos, Schumacher-Hall, and Garay stood out as the best ones. In addition, Graybill's F-test showed that the height-diameter and volumetric equations must be fitted separately for each genetic material. The model of Garay was the best taper model to estimate the bole profiles of all clones using a single equation.