Crown parameters and their relationshio with diameter and height of Eucalyptus trees at different ages

Knowing crown parameters such as the projection area; the percentage and crown formal; slenderness degree; the rate of coverage; the salience index and the index of living space is important for understanding the ecological relationships of tree growth. Thus, leaves' biomass or area of assimilation may be related to sapwood area and possibly to the diameter at breast height (DBH). The objective of this paper was to determine crown parameters and the ratio of sapwood area, the leaf area and leaf biomass related to diameter at breast height and height of trees in forest plantations of Eucalyptus sp. at different ages (20, 44 and 240 months). Quantified were: the biomass of leaves; measured DBH; total height; the height at the crown; the crown radius; the sapwood area and leaf area at each crown third. With these data we calculated the crown parameters, which were compared, at different ages. Evaluated were also the ratio of sapwood area; leaf area; leaf biomass to DBH and height of the tree. The accumulation of leaf biomass in the forests of Eucalyptus showed an increase with the growth of forests. Evaluating morphometric parameters of the crown, we found significant differences among the Eucalyptus forests of different ages. There is a relationship between the total biomass of leaves, between leaf area and between sapwood area, with diameter at breast height (DBH) and height of trees in different thirds of the crown in different aged Eucalyptus plantations.