Abstract

Sprouting dynamics and basic density are important in managing species for production of biomass with the aim of energy production. Our objective was to study sprouting dynamics and basic density in Eucalyptus globulus Labill, E. denticulata Cook & Ladiges and Acacia dealbata Link with three plantation densities (5000, 10 000 and 15 000 trees ha -1 ). The study was conducted in the region of Biobío, Chile, on three evaluation dates (10, 21 and 31 months after cutting; AC). At 10 months, A. dealbata had the highest number of proventitious shoots (5 to 19) in the three densities. The number later decreased (4 to 7) at 21 and 31 months AC in 10 000 and 15 000 trees ha -1 . Eucalyptus denticulata y E.globulus showed three to eight proventitious shoots andone to four at 31 months. In 2014, E. denticulata shootshad the highest basic density (520 and 570 kg m -3 ). Thedensity of the A. dealbata and E. globulus shoots was between 440 and 500 kg m -3 . Basic density decreased in 2015, butE.denticulata conserved its superiority (470 and 490 kgm -3 ). In two-year-old stumps, a high level of sprouting wasrecorded. In the three species, the number of proventitiousshoots decreased over time, favoring natural pruning. Basicdensity of the wood had values similar to adult plantations,which benefited production of biomass for energy fromshoots as short-rotation dendroenergy crops.