Abstract
Abstract: The objective of this work was to determine indicator methods that help to establish the first thinning age of trees to be used in crop-livestock-forest integration systems based on the relationships between eucalyptus growth and soybean and corn production. The experiment followed a completely randomized block design, with four replicates and three production systems (crop monoculture, forest planting monoculture, and crop-forest integration). The percentage of entries and Veiga’s methods, as well as the target growth rates, were assessed to set the thinning age to be adopted for integration systems. The percentage of entries method, the age of the maximum mean annual volume increase, or tree age when diameter growth stagnation occurs did not prove adequate as a reference for thinning, when yields of agricultural crops are not jointly monitored. Methods focusing on controlling the basal area and target diameter increase are feasible to define the technical age for thinning implementation and control.
Highlights
IntroductionTrees work as windbreaks and can help with the control of erosion processes, as well as they conserve and improve soil microclimate and physicochemical properties in integration systems
The percentage of entries and Veiga’s methods, as well as the target growth rates, were assessed to set the thinning age to be adopted for integration systems
The percentage of entries method, the age of the maximum mean annual volume increase, or tree age when diameter growth stagnation occurs did not prove adequate as a reference for thinning, when yields of agricultural crops are not jointly monitored
Summary
Trees work as windbreaks and can help with the control of erosion processes, as well as they conserve and improve soil microclimate and physicochemical properties in integration systems. Thinning procedures help to increase usable timber production during the forest stand rotation, as they make more space available for the remaining trees to grow (Ashton & Kelty, 2018). These procedures control the competition between forest species and agricultural and forage crops, maximizing the overall yield and system profitability
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
