DENSITY MANAGEMENT GUIDE FOR NATURAL Pinus teocote Schlecht. et Cham. FORESTS IN HIDALGO

Abstract

Density is a reliable indicator of the degree of occupation of a specific time and place by trees; besides, it is one of the few variables that represent the structure of forests in a simple, objective manner. A density management guide for Pinus teocote was created for 12 municipalities of eastern Hidalgo. In order to develop the methodology of Reineke’s Stand Density Index, 282 sampling sites with a surface between 100 and 1 000 m2 in full density stands were evaluated; also, in order to define the Crown Competition Factor, 131 isolated individual trees were measured. During the making of the density management guide, the maximum density line or level “A” was determined according to the model proposed by Reineke: an index of 755 trees to a 25 cm square diameter. Line “B”, or minimum density, was established based on the isolated trees, according to the Crown Competiton Factor: the recorded index was 421 trees to the same square diameter. Based on the guide thus generated, a relationship was established between quantitative indices allowing comparison between the density degree and certain dasometric variables in Pinus teocote stands, regardless of their age, the quality of the site and the dimensions of the trees within specific density intervals.