Abstract
Plantation forestry in southern Brazil demands additional timber species to a higher market differentiation by providing high quality timber and exploitation of market niches. Cupressus lusitanica has long been recognized for this purpose but, until now, it was not properly region-wide quantified in terms of growth and yield. The present study delivers the lacking quantitative approach, which may encourage the commercial use of the species. With this study it was aimed at collecting and processing quantitative data from all known C. lusitanica stands in southern Brazil. Inventories were carried out (60 ha, 6-39 years of age) in order to model the development of dominant height (h100), basal area, volume and dominant diameter (d100). Dominant height was the basis for site quality evaluation, delivering site index curves, which, together with the commercial volume of the stands, allowed yield modelling. A wide amplitude of dominant height growth was detected (10-30 m at 20 years), indicating a great site quality variation. At age of 20 years, commercial volumes of 110 and 620 m³ ha-1 were observed for site indexes of 14 and 26, respectively, equivalent to a maximum of 6-31 m³ ha-1 year-1 at ages between 16-18 years. Results demonstrated in a robust manner that C. lusitanica has a high potential for cultivation in southern Brazil. Thus, offering the opportunity of market differentiation by promoting market niches whose demands timber for special solid end-uses.
Highlights
Cupressus lusitanica Mill., known as Mexican cypress, is a conifer native to the mountains of Central America, at altitudes varying between 1,700-4,000 m (FARJON; FILER, 2013)
The taper equations fitted for C. lusitanica with 8, 12 and 16 years of age grown in southern Brazil are given as follow
Site index The range of dominant height across southern Brazil showed that height growth, i.e. site quality, varied widely between stands (10-30 m at age 20 years)
Summary
Cupressus lusitanica Mill., known as Mexican cypress, is a conifer native to the mountains of Central America, at altitudes varying between 1,700-4,000 m (FARJON; FILER, 2013). The timber of C. lusitanica can be considered medium density structural and general purpose (ELZAKI; KHIDER, 2013) It has high dimensional stability and is suitable for special solid end-uses (MILLER; KNOWLES, 1996; OKINO et al, 2010; ALMEIDA et al, 2017), having the finest grain between conifers which deliver high quality finishing, being naturally resistant to fungal decay and insects, which implies in 10-15 years of ground life for heartwood and well over 15 years for above ground uses (MILLER; KNOWLES, 1996). Mean annual increments varying between 3-36 m3 ha-1 year-1 are reported in all these countries
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