This research had as objective to evaluate different taper models for Pinus taeda and select the best one to estimate variables of interest throughout the stem. The functions proposed by Anony, Kozak, Munro, Silva & Sterba, Prodan and the 5° degree Polynomial were evaluated. With data from rigorous cubage of 68 trees, with 25 years old, coming from plantation of Florestal Gateados Ltda, located, in the city of Campo Belo do Sul, SC, Brazil. Based on the statistics adjusted coefficient of determination (R²aj), standard error of estimates (Syx), bias, average of differences (md) and standard deviation of the differences (dpd) was selected the Polynomial of 5th degree to estimate as the commercial high, commercial volume and the diameters of the 1st and 2nd logs. The commercial heigh results without tendencies with errors oscillating in a small interval, and by the commercial volume a certain tendency of underestimate trees with smaller DAP, and a light tendency for those trees with bigger dap can be observed. Regarding the diameter and volume of the first log an overestimate of the values occurred, but with small errors, mainly for the diameter. For the estimates of the diameter and volume of the second log the results were better than those found for the first log, with light underestimate tendency of the diameter and, practically, without tendency for the volume.
planning; forest inventory; stem profile; volume determination
