Diameter growth of Pinus elliottii and Pinus taeda in arenizated and degraded areas in the Western of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

This research aims to study the performance of Pines elliottii Engelm. and Pines taeda L. in the arenizated and degraded areas by antropic action in the western of Rio Grande do Sul state. In stands were selected medium trees, which were harvested and sectioned by Smalian method to obtain wood discs for dendro chronological analysis to determine the diameter by age. The diameter growth compared between species showed different levels of development over time. The use of dummy variables in the growth model enables a single equation to estimate the diameter as a function of age for both species, considering the medium and low levels of soil degradation, as variables necessary to estimate the growth of these species in these types of arenizated degraded soils.