Edaphic-climatic zoning of eucalyptus species in the Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to perform the edaphic-climatic zoning of six eucalyptus species (E.  camaldulensis, C. citriodora, E. cloeziana, E. grandis, E. saligna, and E. urophylla) in the state of Rio de Janeiro (RJ). The edaphic-climatic zoning was determined by overlayer of thermal and water (water deficit [DEF] and rainfall), type of soils (pedology), and relief (altitude) suitability maps. Suitability maps were obtained using Geographic Resources Analysis Support System (GRASS-GIS). The species studied showed potential for cultivation in the entire RJ due to different tolerances and requirements to the environmental conditions. The exception was the E. saligna, which proved to be unsuitable for the entire state, while C. citriodora showed the greatest suitability. Among edaphic-climatic factors analyzed, air temperature and DEF were the most important limiting factor for the suitability of species.