Construction of a silvicultural scheme for Nothofagus dombeyi using potential available area, maximum density index and diameter growth variation according to density

Abstract

This study proposes a silvicultural management scheme for Nothofagus dombeyi considering a combination of Reineke density index, the punctual density estimation with the method available potential area (APA) and a new function created to calculate the diametric growth when this is depending on density. The Index of maximum density allowed defining the minimum density before losing a land area and onset density for tree crown competence. Considering this information, it proposes a silvicultural scheme, applying tree cut for density reduction and keeping the forest in a rank established to obtain a better diameter of growing with minimum interventions. The Scheme included cleaning (2) and thinning (4), from 23 to 81 years old, with a residual density of 340 tree hectare^-1, and a diameter at breast height (DBH) near 44 cm. The application of this scheme would offer a wood volume of 757 m³ hectare^-1 total by tree cut added to residual volume at the moment of reaching 50 cm of DBH. This would mean 1.217 m³ hectare^-1 in 86 years, and would generate a middle diametric growth of 14.1 m³ hectare^-1 year^-1.