Fertilization of Eucalyptus Stands at Advanced Ages in Minas Gerais, Brazil

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the response to fertilization at advanced ages in Eucalyptus stands. Fertilization at advanced ages (FA) was applied in stands managed according to tall shaft and coppice regimes. All stands received operational fertilization from the company. It was used as the basis to the network of continuous forestry inventory plots (P-IFC) of the company. Connected to the P-IFC, twin-plots received FA throughout four age classes, 30 to 35, 42 to 47, 54 to 59 and 66 to 70 months. The FA presented a biological response and provided volumetric gains of 17 and 51% for stands with tall shaft and coppice, respectively. The most significant responses to the FA was seen at younger ages of the forest in the tall shaft regime. Despite the biological response, the volumetric gains did not provide financial returns in either regime due to the elevated doses applied.