ANAZCO ROMERO, Mario José; VALLEJOS ALVAREZ, Hugo Vinicio    VIZCAINO PANTOJA, María Isabel. Growth dynamics of Alnus nepalensis D. Don in northwestern continental Ecuador. []. , 6, 3, pp. 354-365. ISSN 2310-3469.

We investigate the growth dynamics of the Alnus nepalensis species located in the Intag Zone, Northwest of Continental Ecuador. By measuring the total and commercial height, as well as the diameter at 1.3 m during the first 23 years of age of specimens distributed over an area of 127.8 hectares, we were able to analyze the silvicultural cycle of the species. Alnus nepalensis turned out to be a fast growing tree. The maximum height and diameter were 28.0 m and 83.0 cm, respectively, found in 22 year-old specimens planted in agroforestry systems in association with Coffea arabica. The species shows a precocious growth in height during its juvenile age. At three years old, it registers its maximum annual average increase (IMA) in height of 2.73 m; while in the period between year three and year seven there is a constant growth of 2.66 m / year. The maximum IMA of diametral growth was 5, 50 cm during the eight year, which coincides with the age at which the rate of increase in height begins to slow down. The dasometric analysis allows us to conclude that the growth of Alnus nepalensis in Ecuador is higher than those in other countries, including Nepal, where the species originates.

: aliso; growth dynamics.

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