ANALYSIS OF GROWTH AND LATEX PRODUCTION IN COMMERCIAL FOREST PLANTATIONS OF RUBBER (Hevea brasiliensis Muell Arg.) IN THE STATE OF OAXACA, MEXICO

Were selected 41 plantations in the region of Papaloapan; these didn't present damage by plagues, disease or mechanic action; have a space of 6 x 3 m and ages from 1 to 42 years. In each plantation were design sites of 1000 m(2) whose trees were enumerated consecutively. Were measured a total of 2255 trees from which were obtain the next data: thick of bark (gc), height of clean wood (altf), total height (altt), diameter normal (dpa), projection of canopy north-south and east-west and to 1562 trees were measured the latex production in kg/tree/year. With the objective to establish the grade of association between the latex production and the dasometric variables, to reach this goal were used the statistics programme SAS (SAS Institute Inc., 1991). According to comparing four mathematic models to predict the commercial volume of clon IAN-710 of Hevea brasiliensis Muel Arg. The model of the logarithmic equation and the australian equation present the best adjustment to predict the volume. Nevertheless, the logarithmic model was elected because present the best distribution of residual values and because it's easier to handle than australian equation. The equation elected expressed in it's exponential form is: V= 0.02882823 * D-2.24237 H-0.74475