Site classification based on edaphic factors for Pinus caribaea var. Hondurensis in the Prata region, Minas Gerais

Abstract

This research aimed to study soil factors that affect growth of Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis, classifying the site and analyzing the correlation between soil chemical characteristics and dominant height. It was used 240 permanent plots data and 183 soil samples at 0 to 20 cm depth. Models of Schumacher, Chapman e Richards, Baily e Clutter and Prodan were tested in order to construct the guide curve. It was adopted the age of 20 years as reference with three site classes as well as built a data matrix consisting of dominant height and soil variables. Based on the method of principal components and stepwise method it was developed models to estimate the site index by soil characteristics using. The results revealed that the correlation analysis, the soil chemical characteristics, such as variables SMP index, Al3+, H + Al, CEC at pH 7, and P (Mehlich-1), were borderline factors in the height growth of Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis, as well as the model of Chapman e Richards fitted the best to the data. The model developed by stepwise revealed the greatest accuracy.