Caracterización dasométrica de dos plantaciones de Pinus radiata D. Don, con fines de manejo en la parroquia San Andrés, cantón Guano.

Abstract

This research proposes to characterize the productivity and wood quality of two Pinus radiata plantations, for management purposes in the Guano canton. By means of the inventory by using non-aligned systematic sampling with circular plots with a radius of 8.92 m, 5 plots were installed in plantation A and 6 in plantation B. Into each sampling unit, data was collected for quantitative variables such as circumference, diameter, and breast height (CAP), diameter at breast height (DAP), total height, commercial height. Also, qualitative parameters were recorded such as bifurcation, inclination, straightness of the trunk, mechanical damage, branch thickness, number of pruned logs, angle of insertion pruned, branch insertion angle, phytosanitary condition, spiral grain and log quality. For data processing of the quantitative variables, the calculation of statistical estimators and frequency for qualitative variables was applied. According to the results obtained, plantation A obtained the best average plantation A obtained the best average growth per tree with 0.23 m DAP, 19.61 m total height, 14.07 m in commercial height, in contrast to plantation B with 0.19 m DAP, 13.85 m of total height, 10.57 m of commercial height. Plantation A showed an average total volume per tree of 0.57 m3 per tree, due to the partial application of silvicultural management activities, compared to plantation B with 0.31 m3 of total volume and 0.24 m3 of commercial volume, characterized by the absence of management. Finally, the General Quality Index of plantation A presents the value of 1.90 and plantation B with a value of 3.00. Therefore, for productive Pinus radiata plantations. Therefore, it is essential to apply silvicultural treatments to improve the productivity and quality of wood to be obtained for commercial purposes.