Resumen de Variation in cork oak radial growth
The radial growth of mature cork oaks trees (Quercus suber L.) under cork production was studied by monthly measurements of stem diameter with dendrosneters in the southwestern Portugal for a period of 10 years, including two consecutive cork harvests (in 1991 and 2000).
A dendroclimatological approach was applied and annual diameter growth was related to climatic factors such as winter precipitation, the major factor positively influencing diameter growth, and monthly temperature, a less influent and negatively correlated factor.
The radial growth was also characterized in its pattern and seasonality. The within-the-year seasonal pattern showed to be independent of the tree diameter but was negatively influenced by cork stripping damages that occurred during the previous cork extraction.
Cork oak growth curves for cork, wood and stem (cork + wood) were established, showing a decreasing trend along the production cycle with a similar overall annual growth between the two consecutive production cycles.
The results obtained can be used as background information in management systems for cork oak stands, i.e. for optimizing the cork production cycle in relation to cork planks thickness, the timing of cork extraction and for prediction of tree growth and cork production.
