Resumo

GELDRES, Edith; GERDING, Víctor  e  SCHLATTER, Juan E. Biomass of 4-7 year-old Eucalyptus nitens in a stand in the X Region, Chile. Bosque (Valdivia) [online]. 2006, vol.27, n.3, pp. 223-230. ISSN 0717-9200.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-92002006000300001.

The total biomass of a Eucalyptus nitens plantation was estimated in age sequence from 4 to 7 years, with fertilization (X Region, 41º01’S-73º27’W), in red clayey soil of Crucero series. The forest biomass at ages 4, 5 and 7 was estimated from the corresponding average quadratic diameter (DMC) of the tree; being interpolated at age 6. Components of the crown, stem and roots were obtained; additionally humus and litter were calculated. The total biomass of the stand reached 92 t ha^-1 at 4 years, 131 t ha^-1 at 5 years and 181 t ha^-1 at 6 years with a density of 1,500 trees ha^-1. After thinning, between ages 6-7, the total biomass increase was 29.8 t ha^-1. Yearly root increase was 0.5, 2.4 and 3.8 t ha^-1 in the sequence 4-7 years old. Thinning provided the soil with 21.7 t ha^-1 of waste (crowns and bark) and exported 49 t ha^-1 of wood. Pruning of the lowest third of crowns (800 trees ha^-1) at 5 years contributes with 5.8 t ha^-1 of branches and 3.8 t ha^-1 of leaves to the soil.

Palavras-chave : Eucalyptus nitens; biomass; roots; humus; litter.