PF 21. Growth characteristics of Acacia mangium Willd in tropical dry forest conditions

Abstract

In a zone characterized as Tropical Dry Forest and in Ultisol soil, was conducted a field study in order to evaluate the growth characteristics of Acacia mangium Willd under defoliation. The study factor were 2 season (dry and rain), 3 frequencies (42, 63 and 84 days) and 3 height of harvest (50, 75 and 100 cm). The total height of plant, stem diameter and number of ramifications, were evaluated. The randomized block design with treatment arrange in split-plot and 3 replications was used. The result showed a effect of season, height and frequency of harvest under plant height and stem diameter. The highest values of heights of plants was showed with 84 days of frequency, 100 cm of height of harvest in the dry season (167.72, 156.51, and 143,75, respectively) while with 42 days, 100 cm and in the dry season was observed the highest values to diameter of stem (6.47, 5.20 and 5.59, respectively). The interaction of frequency and height of harvest affect the number of ramifications, it being obtained the highest values to primary, secondary and terciary ramifications with 84 days and 100 cm of frequency and height of harvest (17.50, 58.47 and 60.00, respectively).