The leaf area index (LAI) is one of the key variables for canopy structure description, as it is directly related with evapotranspiration and primary production. This paper presents LAI variation with age for five different genetic materials (MG1, MG2, MG3, MG4 and MG5) of eucalypt plantations (Eucalyptus grandis hybrids), in the eastern Atlantic coast of Brazil. The LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyzer was used to estimate LAI in 98 stands, with ages ranging from 12 to 84 months. LAI values ranged from 1.7 to 4.3. A negative correlation was observed between LAI and age for genotypes MG1, MG2 and MG3, whereas no significant correlation was detected for clones MG4 and MG5. For applications such as process-based models used to estimate NPP and evapotranspiration for MG4 and MG5, LAI average values of 2.57 and 3.04, respectively, must be used.
LAI-2000; eucalypt plantation; leaf area index; clones
