Thinning effect on tree growth and wood production in integrated systems.

In crop, livestock and forest integrated system (ICLF) tree thinning management is adopted to add value and minimize competition. This study aims to assess the effect of ICLF and thinning management on eucalyptus growth and wood productivity. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with four replicates. The treatments were: (I) F, forest with 476 tree ha-1 before and 270 trees ha-1 after thinning (II) CF-S8, with 270 and 135 trees ha-1; (III) ILF-T, with 270 and 101 trees ha-1 (IV) ICLF-S5, with 270 and 90 trees ha-1; (V) ICLFS4, with 270 and 90 trees ha-1 and (VI) ICLF-S8, with 270 and 45 trees ha-1. The ICLF systems increased tree growth and production (clone H13), due to the lower tree density in these systems than homogeneous forest. The total wood production was lower in the integrated systems due to the lower initial tree density than homogeneous forest. The differences observed in the integrated systems are due to the thinning management, such as the season, intensity and type (selection or systematic). The integrated system with the largest number of trees remaining after thinning (ILF-T) presents the highest wood production, equal to 57% of the remaining wood in homogeneous forest.WCCLF. Evento online