Provisional site quality evaluation for coniferous plantations in Sierra de la Ventana, Argentina

Provisional forest site classes were established for the most widely planted conifers in a temperate, hilly zone of Argentina. Growth data were obtained from 72 unmanaged stands. Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) was studied on 22 sites, Monterey pine (Pinus radiata D. Don.) on 20 sites, and deodar (Cedrus deodara (Roxb) Loudon) and Italian or common cypress (Cupressus sempervirens f. hprizontalis (Mill.) Voos) on 15 sites each. Site index, regarded as the height of dominants at the base age of 25 years, was determined by using stem analysis. Site indices as well as yields were higher for the species of genus Pinus, particularly for P. radiata followed by Cedrus deodara and Cupressus sempervirens, respectively. Data from stem analysis pointed out that the mean annual increments in the stands did not culminate even at the age of 30 years.