Leaf area index estimation of Eucalyptus grandis W.Hill. in plantations

Abstract

We estimated leaf area index (LAI) in Eucalyptus grandis W.Hill. plantations in four farms in the Smurfit Kappa Carton de Colombia (SKCC) with three farms located in the city of Popayan (Cauca) and one located in the municipality of Restrepo (Valle del Cauca). Each farm had three fertilized and three unfertilized plots with 64 individuals in each. We used three methods, Plant Canopy Analyzer 2000 (PCA 2000), flat photograph PIPEcv software and a destructive method, which was generated using a mathematical model. The first two methods were measured bimonthly for a year and the final method required trees being cut to measure their diameter. Estimation of leaf area index was 2.01 for PCA 2000, 3.12 for PIPEcv and 2.83 for the mathematical model. These values correspond to the average and range of leaf area indices obtained for each method on all farms. Statistically the three methodologies developed in this study were not closely related.

Keywords

• modelo matemático
• Plant Canopy Analyzer
• plantaciones.