Density effect of Eucalyptus nitens plantations on the hydric balance in the zone of Collipulli, IX Región (Chile)

Abstract

The density effect of Eucalyptus nitens on hydric balance was determined for a plantation located in the intermediate depression, in the north of the IX Region. Soil was red clay of the Collipulli type. Three, 0.25 ha plots were selected from an 8-year-old stand. The plots were thinned with different intensities so that they had 1560, 850 and 663 trees/ ha. The different components of precipitation distribution, and temporal and spatial variation of edaphic water content were determined down to 3 meters.
Evapotranspiration in the tree stands, including water loss by interception, was equivalent to 861, 836 and 776 mm for the high, intermediate and low density stands respectively. Water loss due to interception was an important component of evapotranspiration. The amount of percolated water was in inverse relation with density. In the stand with highest density, percolation was 151 mm. This value increased in the intermediate and low density stands, reaching 216 and 282 mm, respectively.