SITE QUALITY CURVES FOR AFRICAN MAHOGANY PLANTATIONS IN BRAZIL

ABSTRACT Site quality estimation is an important tool in forest management since it is useful for modeling growth and yield for even-aged stands. Data from African mahogany (Khaya ivorensis A. Chev.) Brazilian plantations were used to develop a model to predict dominant height growth, comparing dynamic base-age invariant site index models with the guide curve method (static models). For the evaluation of the candidate models qualitative and quantitative criteria were used. We also verified the stability of the candidate models, preferring a model providing fewer site class changes when predicting site index from different ages. The Lundqvist-Korf function fitted with the guide curve method proved to be effective and accurate for site classification and dominant height predictions of African mahogany stands. The range of observed site index, at a reference age of 15, was between 17 and 33 meters.