In a trial carried out at Santa Barbara, MG, Brazil, the influence of plant population on throughfall, crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and soil moisture regime of Eucalyptus grandis stands was evaluated. Plant population varied from 500 to 5000 trees ha-1. Soil moisture was measured down to a depth of 285 cm by a neutron probe, every 15 days. Rain water interception increased linearly with increasing plant population, whereas ETc was not significantly influenced. Soil moisture level tended to increase as plant population decreased. During the experimental period, soil moisture level was never below that corresponding to retained water at 1.5 MPa.
Eucalyptus grandis; soil moisture; evapotranspiration