Eucalyptus plantations are expanding in Brazil to meet growing demands for wood-based products, such as pulp, paper, and bioenergy. New clones and silvicultural adjustments are needed with the advance of eucalypts to new regions within Brazil. This study’s objective was to evaluate the effect of variable spacing on the development of six Eucalyptus clones cultivated in the Cerrado region of Brazil. These clones were evaluated in a systematic design, with 23 spacing treatments and five biological replicates. Spacing per tree ranged from 1.20 m2 to 21 m2. At two, four, and six years after planting, diameter at breast height (DBH) and height of all trees were measured to estimate wood volume. Regression models were fitted for each trait (DBH, height, and wood volume) and showed that DBH growth was positively affected by spacing, especially at four and six years after planting (R2 > 0.58). Consequently, estimates of individual volume per tree also had a positive relationship with spacing. Total stand volume, on the other hand, was higher under densest spacings. The GG100 clone outperformed all other clones, with higher stand wood volume, especially under the densest spacings. The CCL55 clone is a promising genotype, especially under dense plantations.
Study Implications
Short-rotation woody crops can help meet future feedstock demands. Eucalyptus species have been introduced around the world to meet global demands for fiber and energy. One of the main factors that affects the growth and management of forests is the spacing among trees. Spacing has silvicultural, technological, and economic implications, as it can interfere with growth rates, forestry practices, wood quality, and production costs. This study showed that Eucalyptus plantations with higher density of trees per hectare could lead to higher wood productivity, even in a region with 4–5 months of drought.
Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil are expanding toward the northern and mid-western regions of the country. The objective of the present study was to select clones adapted to the local conditions, with a focus on the Cerrado region. Three clonal experiments were conducted in the municipalities of Catalão, Corumbá-de-Goiás, and Luziânia, in Goiás State, with 109 genotypes of eucalypts. The experimental design consisted of a randomized complete block design with single-tree plots and 29 blocks. Diameter at breast height and total height of all trees were measured four years after planting, for use in the estimation of wood volume for each genotype. The genotype × environmental interaction was significant and predominantly (74%) complex. The genotypic correlation among environments was moderate (< 0.47), indicating that clones should be selected for specific sites. However, some clones performed relatively well across all environments, such as clones CCL21, CCL30, AEC144, CCL07, and CCL35.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.