EFFECTS OF POST-HARVESTING SILVICULTURE IN THE TREE POPULATION OF Chrysophyllum lucentifolium Cronquist (GOIABAO) IN A TERRA FIRME FOREST IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON

Growth rate of a population of Chrysophyllum lucentifolium Cronquist (goiabao) was evaluated, considering trees with diameter equal or above 35 cm, in 700 ha of a terra firme natural forest that was harvested using reduced impact techniques, followed by silvicultural treatments in the municipality of Paragominas, state of Para, Brazilian Amazon. Seven treatments were established, with four replications of 25 ha each one. The silvicultural treatments applied were climber cutting and girdling of competitors trees. Species growth rate was evaluated by the diameter periodic annual increment, during the 2005-2009 period. Diameter measurements were recorded but also the crown shape of the trees and the intensity of light over the trees crowns were observed. Silvicultural treatments (girdling of trees and climber cutting) have not improved the Chrysophyllum lucentifolium Cronquist growth rate during the five-year study period. But trees with 40 cm to 49 cm diameter, with crowns regularly distributed and receiving high intensity of light, grew more in most treatments. Thus, probably the diameter increment will increase in the next years, although some studies in Amazon region have showed that the canopy opening has favored the tree growth rates up to the end of the third year after logging. More silvicultural evaluations must be done in order to know the species growth rate in the last years and to decide about the need of applying again silvicultural treatments.