Caracterización del crecimiento dasométrico de una plantación de Pinus radiata D. Don con fines de manejo silvicultural en la parroquia Sicalpa, provincia de Chimborazo

Abstract

This research aimed to characterize the dasometric growth of a Pinus radiata D. Don plantation for silvicultural management purposes in the Sicalpa town, Chimborazo Province. An inventory was carried out with circular plots with a radius of 12.62 m, four plots were installed, and data on quantitative variables such as Diameter at breast height (DBH), commercial height, and total height were recorded. Qualitative parameters such as bifurcation, inclination, stem straightness, mechanical damage, branch thickness, number of pruned logs, branch insertion angle, phytosanitary status, spiral grain, and log quality were also taken. To process the data of the quantitative variables, we apply the calculation of statistical estimators and frequency. According to the results, the average growth per tree was 16.27 cm DBH, 13.55 cm commercial height, and 16.03 cm total height, with a commercial volume per hectare of 158.44 cubic meters and 185.21 cubic meters per hectare. For the net plantation, we obtained a commercial volume of the stand of 603.64 m3 and a total volume of the stand of 705.63 m3. Finally, the General Quality Index of the Plantation was 9.11, which indicated that the quality is not the best, which was why we must carry out some silvicultural treatment to improve the productivity of the wood.