Abstract
(1) Background: The Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav.) Oken (laurel) natural regeneration management is a widespread practice among smallholders in the Amazon upper basin for the establishment of traditional agroforestry systems. This tree management approach is opposite to the development project proposals that contemplate reforestation with nursery seedlings in the Amazon region. The present study evaluated the effects of thinning levels on the diameter and basal area increment of laurel in a traditional agroforestry system; (2) Methods: A randomized complete block design with three replications was used, and the target variables were the growth rate of diameter at breast height (DBH) and the basal area of trees. Twelve square field plots, 400 m² each, were established in a plot network covering a 1.0 km × 0.5 km area. Three thinning levels were applied: light, moderate, and intensive thinning; (3) Results: The traditional agroforestry system investigated was characterized by a marginal growth of laurel trees, with an average yield of 125.26 m3 ha−1 (±15.39) and MAI of 13.92 m3 ha−1 at 9 years of age with a tree density of 418 trees ha−1. The average value of the relation between the number of trees and the basal area removed (NG value) was 1.15, with small variation among plots, so all of them were thinned from below. The intensive thinning treatment, leaving 200 trees ha−1, caused the greatest annual increase in individual tree DBH (2.03 cm) and basal area (61.37 cm2) in both absolute and relative terms and improved tree height/diameter ratio; (4) Conclusions: Management of laurel natural regeneration for the establishment of traditional agroforestry systems could be improved by thinning at early ages, leaving 200 well-spaced laurel trees per ha.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Laurel growth was marginal, with an average yield of 125.26 cubic metres per hectare at nine years.
Verbatim
e0“marginal growth of laurel trees, with an average yield of 125.26 m3 ha−1 (±15.39) and MAI of 13.92 m3 ha−1 at 9 years of age with a tree density of 418 trees ha−1”
t0“Laurel”
e1“The intensive thinning treatment, leaving 200 trees ha−1, caused the greatest annual increase in individual tree DBH (2.03 cm) and basal area (61.37 cm2) in both absolute and relative terms and improved tree height/diameter ratio”
Claim · model-written summary
Laurel mean annual increment was 13.92 cubic metres per hectare at nine years.
Verbatim
e0“MAI of 13.92 m3 ha−1 at 9 years of age”
t0“Laurel”
e1“The intensive thinning treatment, leaving 200 trees ha−1, caused the greatest annual increase in individual tree DBH (2.03 cm) and basal area (61.37 cm2) in both absolute and relative terms and improved tree height/diameter ratio”
Claim · model-written summary
The NG value averaged 1.15 with little plot variation, indicating thinning from below.
Verbatim
e0“The average value of the relation between the number of trees and the basal area removed (NG value) was 1.15, with small variation among plots, so all of them were thinned from below”
t0“Laurel”
e1“The intensive thinning treatment, leaving 200 trees ha−1, caused the greatest annual increase in individual tree DBH (2.03 cm) and basal area (61.37 cm2) in both absolute and relative terms and improved tree height/diameter ratio”
Claim · model-written summary
Intensive thinning produced the greatest annual DBH increase of 2.03 cm.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“The intensive thinning treatment, leaving 200 trees ha−1, caused the greatest annual increase in individual tree DBH (2.03 cm)”
t0“Laurel”
e1“The intensive thinning treatment, leaving 200 trees ha−1, caused the greatest annual increase in individual tree DBH (2.03 cm) and basal area (61.37 cm2) in both absolute and relative terms and improved tree height/diameter ratio”
Claim · model-written summary
Intensive thinning produced the greatest annual basal area increase of 61.37 square centimetres.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“basal area (61.37 cm2) in both absolute and relative terms”
t0“Laurel”
e1“The intensive thinning treatment, leaving 200 trees ha−1, caused the greatest annual increase in individual tree DBH (2.03 cm) and basal area (61.37 cm2) in both absolute and relative terms and improved tree height/diameter ratio”
Claim · model-written summary
Intensive thinning improved the tree height-to-diameter ratio.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“improved tree height/diameter ratio”
t0“Laurel”
e1“The intensive thinning treatment, leaving 200 trees ha−1, caused the greatest annual increase in individual tree DBH (2.03 cm) and basal area (61.37 cm2) in both absolute and relative terms and improved tree height/diameter ratio”
Claim · model-written summary
Early thinning to 200 well-spaced trees per hectare could improve laurel regeneration management.
Verbatim
e0“Management of laurel natural regeneration for the establishment of traditional agroforestry systems could be improved by thinning at early ages, leaving 200 well-spaced laurel trees per ha”
t0“Laurel”
e1“The intensive thinning treatment, leaving 200 trees ha−1, caused the greatest annual increase in individual tree DBH (2.03 cm) and basal area (61.37 cm2) in both absolute and relative terms and improved tree height/diameter ratio”