Browsing by Author "Pincheira, Matias"

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    Differences in rainfall interception among Eucalyptus genotypes
    (2023) Valverde, Juan Carlos; Rubilar, Rafael; Barrientos, Guillermo; Medina, Alex; Pincheira, Matias; Emhart, Veronica; Zapata, Alvaro; Bozo, Daniel; Espinoza, Yosselin; Campoe, Otavio C.
    Key messageHydrological indicators such as rainfall interception of Eucalyptus genotypes are essential to guarantee the water sustainability of forest plantations under climate change scenarios.Rainfall interception is a critical component of water balance in Eucalyptus plantations and may provide better water sustainability by reducing potential adverse effects under drought scenarios. This study evaluated rainfall interception of Eucalyptus globulus and E. nitens x globulus (high and low yield), E. nitens, E. badjensis, E. smithii, and E. camaldulensis x globulus. Rainfall, stemflow, throughfall, and interception (calculated as rainfall-stemflow-throughfall) were measured for 2 years (2020-2022) and correlated with plantation characteristics [diameter at breast height, total height, stem growth, and leaf area index (LAI)]. Our results showed an average rainfall of 1063.6 mm year(-1); only stemflow did not show differences among genotypes with an average value of 193.4 mm year(-1) (18.2% of annual rain). In contrast, throughfall and interception presented significant differences among genotypes, and both parameters showed a strong relationship with LAI. Therefore, three independent groups were obtained: E. badjensis and E. smithii showed the highest LAI (average 5.7 m(2) m(-2)) with 517.0 mm year(-1) of average interception and 427.6 mm year(-1) of average throughfall (48.6% and 40.2% respectively). For E. globulus (low-yield), E. nitens x globulus (low-yield), and E. nitens, that showed the lowest LAI (average 3.3 m(2) m(-2)), average throughfall reached 730.8 mm year(-1) (68.7%), and average interception reached 197.3 mm year(-1) (18.5%). Finally, E. globulus (high-yield), E. nitens x globulus (high-yield), and E. camaldulensis x globulus with an average LAI of 4.5 m(2) m(-2), average interception reached 345.2 mm year(-1) (32.5%), and average throughfall reached 602.7 mm year(-1) (56.7%). Our results suggest that understanding differences between taxas/genotypes may contribute to developing hydrological indicators that may improve estimates of plantation water sustainability under water scarcity climate change scenarios.
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    Rotation-age effects of subsoiling, fertilization, and weed control on radiata pine growth at sites with contrasting soil physical, nutrient, and water limitations
    (2023) Rubilar, Rafael; Bozo, Daniel; Albaugh, Timothy; Cook, Rachel; Campoe, Otavio; Carter, David; Allen, H. Lee; Alvarez, Jose; Pincheira, Matias; Zapata, Alvaro
    Although short- and medium-term responses to early silvicultural treatments have been documented, few studies show productivity gains or losses throughout a rotation across a range of soil types and resource availability. We evaluated the rotation length productivity responses of radiata pine to subsoiling, fertilization, and weed control in dry sand (DS), red clay (RC), and recent volcanic ash (RV) soils representing a gradient of physical, nutrient, and water limitations. Stands were planted in 2000 in a split-plot factorial design, with soil preparation (subsoiling vs. shovel planting) as the main plot and fertilization at planting (B only vs. NPKB) and weed control (none vs. 2-year banded application) as factorial randomized treatment plots within the main plots. Annual diameter at breast height, height, survival, and cumulative volume responses were measured. The rotation-age results for cumulative volume showed that early gains from weed control were maintained through at least 15 years of age. At rotation age, weed control increased the cumulative volume at the DS site (56 m3/ha, 20% gain), and the response over time was maintained at the RC site (28 m3/ha, 8% gain), whereas the volume was reduced at the RV site (-36 m3/ha, 7% loss). Fertilization resulted in the greatest response at the RC site (29 m3/ha, 8% gain); there were small responses at the DS site (5 m3/ha, 2% gain) and negative responses at the RV site (-18 m3/ ha, 4% loss). Interestingly, subsoiling resulted in null or negative responses at all sites, and negative effects increased over time, with volume responses ranging from -4 m3/ha (1% loss) and -27 m3/ha (7% loss) at the DS and RC sites, respectively, to -116 m3/ha (21% loss) at the RV site. Carrying capacity was reached at midrotation at the RV site and resulted in negative treatment effects at rotation age, suggesting the need for thinning or a younger harvest age at this site. Given the negative or null effects of soil preparation, a better understanding is needed for how this silvicultural treatment is affected by soil type and soil strength.
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    Using Tree Height, Crown Area and Stand-Level Parameters to Estimate Tree Diameter, Volume, and Biomass of Pinus radiata, Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus nitens
    (2022) Gonzalez-Benecke, Carlos A.; Paulina Fernandez, M.; Gayoso, Jorge; Pincheira, Matias; Wightman, Maxwell G.
    Accurate estimates of tree diameter, height, volume, and biomass are important for numerous economic and ecological applications. In this study, we report exponential equations to predict tree DBH (cm), stem volume over bark (VOB, m(3)), and total above-stump biomass (TASB, kg) using three varying levels of input data for Pinus radiata D. Don, Eucalyptus globulus Labill., and Eucalyptus nitens (H.Deane & Maiden) Maiden planted trees. The three sets of input data included: (1) tree height (HT, m), (2) tree HT and ground projected living crown area (CA, m(2)), and (3) tree HT, CA, and additional stand parameters. The analysis was performed using a large dataset covering the range of distribution of the species in central Chile and included stands of varying ages and planting densities. The first set of equations using only HT were satisfactory with Adj-R-2 values ranging from 0.78 to 0.98 across all species and variables. For all three species, estimation of DBH, VOB, and TASB as a function of HT improved when CA was added as an additional independent variable, increasing Adj-R-2 and reducing RMSE. The inclusion of stand variables, such as age and stand density, also resulted in further improvement in model performance. The models reported in this study are a robust alternative for DBH, VOB, and TASB estimations on planted stands across a wide range of ages and densities, when height and CA are known, especially when input data are derived from remote sensing techniques.
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    Wood Basic Density Assessment of Eucalyptus Genotypes Growing under Contrasting Water Availability Conditions
    (2024) Elissetche, Juan Pedro; Alzamora, Rosa M.; Espinoza, Yosselin; Emhart, Veronica; Pincheira, Matias; Medina, Alex; Rubilar, Rafael
    Limited research exists on wood properties in E. nitens x E. globulus hybrid genotypes grown in water-limited conditions generated by the climate change influence in Mediterranean areas. The EUCAHYDRO project aimed to assess environmental stress impacts on eucalyptus genotypes, including responses to reduced water availability, and to evaluate wood density and resistance using the non-destructive drill resistance technique. This study focused on 10-year-old E. nitens x E. globulus hybrids and Eucalyptus badjensis Beuzev. & Welch, revealing that low irrigation led to a 13% (p < 0.05) decrease in diameter and a 6.5% (p > 0.05) increase in wood density for the hybrids. On the contrary, E. badjensis demonstrated a noteworthy 22% increase in wood density (p < 0.05), while showing a corresponding 0.6% growth increase (p > 0.05), as measured by the diameter at breast height. Drill resistance measurement results indicated that E. nitens x E. globulus' amplitude ranged from 20.1% to 26.6%, while E. badjensis' ranged from 20.8% to 27.2%. The study revealed a high correlation between resistance amplitude and wood density, with coefficients of 0.97 observed for E. nitens x E. globulus and 0.84 for E. badjensis (p < 0.05). These findings fall within the range reported in similar studies involving Eucalyptus spp. The primary focus of the research was to assess the growth potential and wood quality of novel Eucalyptus spp. under conditions of water limitation. The study also explored the utility of drill resistance as a predictive measure for evaluating wood density as an indicator of wood quality.