INFLUENCE OF PLANT SPACING ON THE BARK PROPERTIES OF A Eucalyptus CLONE

ABSTRACT For several wood uses, such as pulp, paper and charcoal, the presence of the bark is undesirable, compromising production. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of different plant spacings on the properties of the bark of a clone of Eucalyptus grandis x E. camaldulensis at seven years of age at five different plant spacings. The wood discs were removed from the trees at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the commercial height; then we performed thickness, basic density, gross calorific value and mineral content analysis of bark. There were no significant differences among treatments for the bark gross calorific value and thickness. For the bark basic density, the highest values were found in trees planted in wider plant spacings and considering the mineral content, there was a significant difference only for P, Mn and Zn.