Resumen de Influence of silviculture and environment on cork+wood growth based on band dendrometer data

Javier Vázquez Piqué, María Angeles Suárez de La Cámara, Raúl Tapias Martín, Enrique Torres Álvarez

• The objective of this study is to analyse the influence of environment and silviculture (inter-tree competition, stripping intensity, tree size) on cork oak stem growth, measured by band dendrometers. Two experimental held plots were installed in 2003 in two contrasting sites for the species: Hinojos (Huelva, Spain) and Cortes de la Frontera (Málaga, Spain). In 100 trees per plot, an aluminium band dendrometer was attached to the stem and monthly measurements of cork wood circumference growth were collected since spring 2003. Measurements needed to calculate the stripping intensity (circunference and stripping length on the stem and branches) were collected. Inter-tree competition was taking into account calculating several distance dependent competition indexes. A model that takes into account the influence of tree size, cork thickness, stripping intensity, intraespecific competition, regional effect and tree type (stripped or not stripped cork oak) on wood+cork growth was developed. The circumference at breast height over cork, the competition index Area Overlap Index, the tree type, the year effect and the interaction circumference-region were the variables selected in the model.

  Monthly growth patterns showed a winter rest period from November to February in Hinojos and from November to April in Cortes, with high interannual variability. Maximum growth rates occurs in spring and starting of summer with maximum values in June (Hinojos) and July (Cortes de la Frontera). Drought leads to a rest growth period at the end of summer in Hinojos site.