ABSTRACT
The 3-PG model is an effective tool for determining the productive productivity of eucalypt plantations. However, the model parameterizations available today produce underestimated results when they are applied to Cerrado region of Minas Gerais state. Thus, in this paper we aimed to parameterize the 3-PG model for fast-growing eucalypt clonal plantations in the Cerrado region of Minas Gerais state, Brazil. To perform the parameterization, there were collected data from stands of Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla clonal hybrid, throughout an age range, from very young stands (about 3 months old) until adult stands (about 7 years old), in two regions (Curvelo and Itacambira - MG). The growth estimates obtained by 3-PG were compared with data from forest inventory in both regions, until 84 months old. The application of 3-PG model using the set of parameter and variable values determined in the study allowed to describe, accurately, the growth patterns of forests stands in the Cerrado region of Minas Gerais state. Thus, it follows that the parameterization upgraded the performance of the model that resulted in accurate estimates of growth.
Keywords:
process-based modeling; simulation; eucalypt