PERFORMANCE OF Eucalyptus spp. SEEDLINGS IN THE "DRY RAINFOREST" REGION OF THE STATE OF PERNAMBUCO, BRAZIL. I: RESULTS OF THE FIRST YEAR

1 RESUMO ñ O trabalho objetivou selecionar, para a regiªo da Zona da Mata de Pernambuco, cultivares de Eucalyptus e, ou, identificar clones com alto potencial de produtividade. As espØcies Eucalyptus saligna Sm., E. dunnii Maiden, E. benthamii Maiden & Cambage, E. tereticornis Sm., E. urophylla S.T. Blake, E. pilularis Sm., E. camaldulensis Dehnh., E. robusta Sm., E. grandis W. Hill ex Maiden e E. citriodora Hook estªo sendo avaliadas por sete anos, observando-se as seguintes variÆveis: sobrevivŒncia (%), bifurcaÁªo (%), altura (m) e di‚metro (cm). O delineamento utilizado foi em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetiÁies, sendo a parcela constituÌda de 35 plantas. Aos 12 meses, as espØcies apresentaram sobrevivŒncia superior a 95,0%, nªo foi registrado bifurcaÁªo na espØcie E. dunnii.e E. citriodora exibiu o valor mÆximo de 35,0%, enquanto nas demais espØcies os valores foram inferiores a 15,0%. Os melhores desempenhos de altura e di‚metro ocorreram em E. citriodora, E. urophylla, E. camaldulensis, E. saligna, E. grandis e E. dunnii. ABSTRACT ñ Due to its high rainfall and predominance of hot climate conditions all over the year, the 'dry rainfall' region of the State of Pernambuco, located in the Northeastern part of Brazil, appears to be suitable to the growth and development of many forest tree species such as those of the genus Eucalyptus. In this trial, seedlings of 10 Eucalyptus species were tried, namely: Eucalyptus saligna Sm., E. dunnii Maiden, E. benthamii Maiden & Cambage, E. tereticornis Sm., E. urophylla S.T. Blake, E. pilularis Sm., E. camaldulensis Dehnh., E. robusta Sm., E. grandis W. Hill ex Maiden and E. citriodora Hook. Observations and measurements will be carried out during seven years, taking into account mainly: survival (%), plant height and crown width. A complete randomised block experimental design was used with four replicates, with 35 plants per plot. At the first evaluation, held 12 months after planting, the following data were obtained: the majority of Eucalyptus species showed a survival rate higher than 95,0%; in relation to forked trees, only E. dunnii, has not presented such characteristic, while E. citriodora. showed the highest rate (35%) and the others, values below 15%; highest plant height and diameter at breast heigth (DBH) were found among seedlings of E. citriodora, E. urophylla, E. camaldulensis, E. saligna E. grandis and E. dunnii.