Thinning effect in two young stone pine plantations (Pinus pinea L.) in central southern Chile
2013
V., Loewe | A., Venegas | C., Delard | M., González
In Chile stone pine was introduced more than a century ago, mainly by Italian and Spanish immigrants who brought it as part of their culture; interest for this nut in Chile is recent and has been gradually increasing. Crown development is one of the most important factors on pine nut production because it is influenced mainly by light. In winter 2009 two young P. pinea plantations, 15 and 16 years old, located in central Chile (Casablanca –Valparaíso Region– and Pencahue –Maule region), where thinned in order to evaluate the effect of this intervention. Variables evaluated were DBH, height and crown diameter. With the software ArcGIS 9.2, an analysis of crown area growth was made before and after thinning. Results showed a positive increase in dasometric variables one and two years after the intervention in both situations. A significant increase in tree crown area was found; crowns tend strategically to take advantage of light and space, taking a rounded form, change that would have a significant effect on pine nut production.
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