Resumen

LOPEZ-AYALA, José L.; VALDEZ-HERNANDEZ, Juan I.; TERRAZAS, Teresa  y  VALDEZ-LAZALDE, J. René. Diameter growth of tree species in a semideciduous tropical forest at Colima, México. Agrociencia [online]. 2006, vol.40, n.1, pp.139-147. ISSN 2521-9766.

To contribute to a better forest management of Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg., Tabebuia donnell-smithii Rose and Cordia elaeagnoides D.C. in Colima, their seasonal diameter growth was determined, as well as its relationship with the occurrence of phenological events in the trees along with the temperature and precipitation of the region. Dendrometer bands were installed on 37 trees (10 B. simaruba, 13 T. donnell-smithii and 14 C. elaeagnoides), to be read every two months, during 13 months (August 2002-August 2003), along with measurements using diameter tape. The results showed differences among species and measurement dates (p≤0.001) for the diameter growth registered with bands, as well as among species and diameter categories (p≤0.001), and among measurement dates ≤ (p≤0.01) for the growth registered with tape. Although the bands ≤ were more precise than the tape, a monthly/bimonthly measurement frequency is suggested in periods of one to three years when bands are used, and a semestral/annual frequency in periods of three years or more when tape is used. T. donnell-smithii presented the highest average annual growth with 0.72 (bands) and 1.85 (tape) cm year−1, followed by B. simaruba, with 0.25 (bands) and 0.69 (tape) cm year−1, and C. elaeagnoides with 0.17 (bands) and 0.56 (tape) cm year−1. In C. elaeagnoides, the growth registered with diameter tape showed significant correlations with temperature (r=0.79, p≤0.05) and precipitation (r=0.76, p≤0.05), while that obtained with dendrometer bands only had a significant correlation with temperature (r=0.77, p≤0.05).

Palabras llave : Bursera simaruba; Cordia elaeagnoides; Tabebuia donnell-smithii; dendrometer bands; diameter tape.