Growth, carbon and nutrients dynamics in Eucalyptus saligna Sm. and Eucalyptus teriticornis Sm. short rotation plantations in the highlands of Costa Rica

A study based on woody biomass was set with an experimental design of randomized complete blocks, with Eucalyptus saligna and Eucalyptus teriticornis species, with three planting densities: 5000 trees ha -1 , 10000 trees ha -1 and 20000 trees ha -1 . Data were collected at 0, 12 and 24 months old and growing relationships were analyzed. Above ground biomass, soil carbon and nutrients in soil were determined. The results showed no statistically significant differences between species in biomass production, obtaining values from 2.88 up to 22.48 ton ha -1 , with a ratio of about 35 % dry biomass provided by the foliage. Moreover, soil carbon content is 66.0 Mg ha -1 in the first 20 cm of depth. Nutrient analysis indicated that there are differences between species and structures (stem and foliage) but not between treatments. In general terms, the distribution of nutrients in the two-species studied is set to a ratio of 20 % in the stem and 80 % in foliage.