Growth and conservation of Piptocoma discolor (Pigüe) in the Province of Pastaza - Ecuador

Abstract

Piptocoma discolor (Pigüe) is a species native to the Amazon of South America, with predominance in the secondary forest. include Pigue as a forest species that contributes to the economic and social development of the Amazon it is essential to develop the modeling of its growth for the conservation of the species. This study was conducted in an area of 2 ha of a farm located in the canton of Mera, and the information of 100 random samples of trees in various growth stages was collected. The initial growth phase was considered up to 16 months with respect to diameter and height; the diameter greater 2.9, cm and smaller 0.71 cm, with a coefficient of variation of 0.33 and a kurtosis of 1.86, of the plants. In geomorphological conditions typical of the area and with respect to the height it has a value greater value of 2.59 m and a minimum value of 0.86 m. The average growth curves describe a polynomial of degree two, with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.997 for diameter and (R²) between 0.993 for height of growth velocity with non-linear behavior, mathematical models and their projection of the diameter of growth of the tree at 6 years with diameter of 19.74 cm and height 25.32 m, and with weight of 542.88 kg, of biomass, this shows that the conservation of the species in the province of Pastaza, front to the exploitation of the annual production of 32,181,341.47 million metric tons and being acceptable in relation to other pioneer species for the economic development of the Ecuadorian Amazon.