Submitted by Valquíria Barbieri (kikibarbi@hotmail.com) on 2018-05-11T22:47:21Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISS_2015_Viviann Maciel da Silva Alves.pdf: 2007992 bytes, checksum: fb0de83e59ffafb9ee648dca885c8520 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Jordan (jordanbiblio@gmail.com) on 2018-05-24T16:05:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DISS_2015_Viviann Maciel da Silva Alves.pdf: 2007992 bytes, checksum: fb0de83e59ffafb9ee648dca885c8520 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-24T16:05:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISS_2015_Viviann Maciel da Silva Alves.pdf: 2007992 bytes, checksum: fb0de83e59ffafb9ee648dca885c8520 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-31 / O desbaste é prática silvicultural que visa reduzir a competição entre indivíduos e reestabelecer o crescimento das árvores remanescentes. A idade em que o desbaste é aplicado, o tipo utilizado e a sua intensidade promovem alterações estruturais e melhoram a qualidade do povoamento e o seu volume. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar a alteração estrutural e os produtos obtidos de povoamentos de Tectona grandis submetidos ao desbaste seletivo e ao desbaste misto. O trabalho foi desenvolvido em dois povoamentos homogêneos e coetâneos de teca, implantados no espaçamento de 3,0 m x 3,0 m, e desbastados aos cinco anos de idade. Foram estabelecidas parcelas permanentes de 15 m x 60 m, sendo 23 em Nossa Senhora do Livramento e 22 em São José dos Quatro Marcos, onde foram medidas as alturas total e comercial e a circunferência à altura do peito e calculados o DAP, a área transversal média, além dos volumes total e comercial e a área basal. As árvores foram qualificadas quanto à forma de fuste, quanto ao estado fitossanitário e determinadas às respectivas causas e intensidade do dano. Para cada parcela, os indivíduos ainda foram qualificados quanto à classe de dominância e determinados os valores das mesmas variáveis para cada classe. Para comparar os produtos e as alterações estruturais de cada um dos desbastes, os valores médios das parcelas foram submetidos ao teste de Student. Com os valores médios das parcelas para as classes de dominância foram confeccionados os perfis horizontal e vertical para representar esquematicamente a alteração estrutural dos povoamentos desbastados. De forma independente, o desenvolvimento de cada povoamento desbastado ao quinto ano foi avaliado e descrito aos sexto e sétimo anos de idade. O tipo de desbaste aplicado interfere na qualidade da floresta remanescente de Teca e nos produtos obtidos com a operação. O desbaste misto remove toras de qualidade superior ás toras do desbaste seletivo. As árvores remanescentes do desbaste misto apresentam maior frequência de indivíduos de qualidade inferior e presença alternada de linhas com maior ou menor adensamento. O desbaste seletivo proporciona aumento da qualidade das árvores remanescentes, com desenvolvimento superior em relação ao desbaste misto, ainda que, no primeiro ano apresente desenvolvimento superior em relação ao seletivo. / The thinning is a forestry practice to reduce competition between individuals and restore growth of the remaining trees. The age at which trimming is applied, the type used and structural changes its intensity promote and improve the quality of the stand and tree volume. The objective of this study was to compare the structural change and the products obtained from stands of Tectona grandis subjected to selective thinning and mixed thinning. The study was conducted in two homogeneous and aged teak stands, planted with spacing of 3.0 m x 3.0 m, and chopped to five years of age. Permanent plots of 15m x 60m were established, 23 in Nossa Senhora do Livramento and 22 in São José dos Quatro Marcos, in them were measured total and commercial height and circumference at breast height and calculated the diameter at breast height, cross-sectional area, in addition to total and commercial volumes. The trees were still qualified on how to stem, as the healthy and determined the causes and extent of damage. For each installment, the individuals were still qualified as the dominance of certain class and the values of the same variables for each class. To compare products and structural changes of each of the thinning, the mean values of the plots were submitted to the Student test. With average values of parcels for dominance classes were made the horizontal and vertical profiles to schematically represent the structural change of thinned. The development of each of the thinned fifth grade was evaluated, and described independently to the sixth and seventh years. The type of applied thinning interferes with the quality of the remaining forest teak and products obtained from the operation. The mixed thinning removes top quality logs ace logs of selective thinning. The remaining trees mixed thinning an increased frequency of inferior individuals and alternating presence of lines with varying density. Selective thinning provides increased quality of the remaining trees, with a better performance in relation to mixed thinning, even in the first year to present higher development compared to selective.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Grain Science and Industry / Xiuzhi Susan Sun / Om Prakash / Rational design of peptide molecules to undergo spontaneous organization as a higher-ordered supramolecular structure is an attractive and fast-growing field for developing new functional biomaterials. Hydrogel, with its high water content and three-dimensional architecture, is formed by a self-assembling peptide and has great potential for broad biomedical applications. The key challenge in controlling the functional properties of final biomaterials can be met by designing the peptide primary structure carefully at the beginning and developing a comprehensive understanding of peptide self-assembly pathways. In this study, we first designed a Ca2+ responsive peptide (eD2) using identified functional native domains from a spider flagelliform silk protein and the Ca2+ binding domain of lipase Lip A from Serratia marcescens. Instead of directly linking the two peptide sequences, we rationally inserted the ion-binding motif into the silk structure sequence and made the new peptide inherit the physical characteristics of both model sequences and assemble into nanofibers when triggered by Ca2+. Next, we introduced the amphiphilic property to the eD2 peptide by conjugating its N-terminus with a strong hydrophobic sequence from a trans-membrane segment of human muscle L-type calcium channel. This self-assembly peptide, called h9e, was responsive to Ca2+, solution pH, and selected proteins for hydrogel formation. Interestingly, the turning segment GSII of h9e was considered to play a critical role in construction of the finial matrix. This hypothesis was further demonstrated by exploiting a series of amphiphilic diblock model peptides with different conformational flexibility. The kinetic rate of peptide assembly was suggested as one of the key influences for peptide supramolecular assembly morphology. To better understand the peptide self-assembly process during hydrogel formation, the conformational, morphological, and mechanical properties of h9e molecules in different dimethylsulfoxide/H2O solutions were monitored by 1D and 2D proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron microscopy, and a rheometer. The h9e peptide hydrogel formed with Ca2+ and albumin exhibited superior physiological and specific injectable properties, which provides a more realistic tool for 3D cell culture and drug delivery. This study generates new knowledge and contributes to the field by leading to a better understanding the self-assembly hydrogel formation and designing peptides with unique properties for biomedical applications such as cell culture, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.

Bumpless interconnects and ultra-thinning of 300 mm wafers for three-dimensional (3D) stacking technology has been studied [1, 2]. In our previous studies, wafer thinning effect using device wafers less than 10 μm was investigated [3, 4]. There was no change for the retention time before and after thinning even at 4 μm in thickness of DRAM wafer [5]. In this study, the behavior of Cu contamination on an ultra-thin Si stacked structure was investigated. Thinned Si wafers were intentionally contaminated with Cu on the backside and 250 °C of heating was carried out during the adhesive bonding and de-bonding processing. An approximately 200 nm thick damaged layer was formed at the backside of the Si wafer after thinning process and Cu particle precipitates ranged at 20 nm were observed by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (X-TEM). With secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and EDX analyses, Cu diffusion was not detected in the Si substrate, suggesting that the damaged layer prevents Cu diffusion from the backside.

The growth and productivity of kauri (Agathis australis (D. Don) Lindl.) in even-aged single-species planted stands and mixed-aged second-growth natural stands has been studied. Stand-level models of height, basal area and whole-tree volume were developed. Kauri growth and productivity in planted stands up to 83 years old were compared to that of natural stands that were up to 196 years of age. Within natural stands, the effect of thinning treatments on growth and productivity was also assessed. Models of growth and productivity were initially developed for each of the three different kauri stand types independently (planted, second-growth unthinned and thinned). Combined data sets allowed for the development of single models that were able to fit all stands. A Schumacher equation with local slope parameter and asymptote bounded at 45 m gave the best fit for height growth, while a von Bertalanffy-Richards equation in difference form with local slope parameter gave the best fit for basal area growth. Kauri in all stand types were found to be slow to establish with little height growth in planted stands for the first five years after planting, and for the first 25 years in natural stands. Similar trends were observed for basal area and whole-tree volume development. Models developed in this study are relevant only to kauri in the “ricker” or monopodial form irrespective of age, and for stands from 320-2000 stems/ha. Kauri growth and productivity in planted stands was substantively better than that in second-growth stands. Planted kauri had height increment of 0.4 m/yr for periods of up to 30 years. At age 50, planted kauri was predicted to be 20 m in height, over twice the height of kauri in natural stands, and to be 28.1 m by 100 years. Basal area at age 50 averaged 64.9 m2/ha for all planted stands, and was predicted to be 98.2 m2/ha at age 100. Whole-tree volume was predicted to increase by 11.7 m3/ha/annum for all stands, but was as high as 20.6 m3/ha/yr in one 70 year old stand. The maximum productivity of kauri was observed in one high-performing young kauri planted stand where whole-tree volume increment in excess of 30 m3/ha/yr were predicted for a period from age 15-30. Carbon sequestration was calculated from the volume model and predicted to be 316 t C/ha and 1168 t CO2/ha at age 100. Mortality of kauri in planted stands was as high as 3.9%/yr for individual stands, over their entire rotation to date. For all stands, mortality averaged 0.56%/yr. The highest mortality occurred in the years before the first assessment and averaged 0.64%/yr for all stands. From the first to the last assessment mortality averaged 0.30%/yr. Where mortality in individual stands was above the average rate the dominant cause was drought. The growth and productivity of kauri in second-growth stands was only marginally improved by thinning to reduce competition. The volume removed in thinning operations had not been replaced in the (up to) 50 years since thinning treatments were applied. At age 150, the predicted height of kauri in unthinned control and thinned stands were identical at 25.9 m. Basal area at age 150 was 64.5 m2/ha in unthinned stands and 52.6 m2/ha in thinned stands. Whole-tree volume was predicted to be 681 m3/ha in unthinned and 549 m3/ha in thinned stands. Volume increment peaked at 5.2 m3/ha/yr in unthinned stands and 4.7 m3/ha/yr in thinned stands. This study has shown that the worst growth and productivity of kauri in planted stands was better than that of the best natural stands. The difference in performance between plantation and second-growth kauri was most likely a result of a combination of lower site quality characteristics (soil type and fertility), stand structure and within-stand competition of natural stands. The data for planted kauri came from 31 permanent sample plots located in 25 planted stands. These stands ranged in age from 14-83 years at the last assessment, and ranged in stand density from 218-1800 stems/ha. The overall number of planted stands and plots from which data was available to develop models was small in comparison to many exotic forest species datasets. The majority of the planted stands were not silviculturally treated after planting, and considerable variation in establishment methods was recorded. The results of productivity from the models developed for planted kauri should therefore be considered to be conservative. The results of this study indicate an opportunity to grow kauri in plantations on good quality sites for the production of high quality sapwood timber over rotations of 60 years or less. They also indicate that second-growth stands will produce usable volumes of timber, but only over extended periods of time. To ensure that kauri in planted stands can meet the potential observed during the development of these models, a series of well-managed stands on a range of sites is urgently required where the effects of timely silviculture, including initial stand density, can be assessed, quantified and reported on. Further research on selection and breeding for the species would improve the early establishment and growth of planted kauri resulting in a reduced rotation length. Research on long-term management strategies that include continuous cover forestry may make the species an attractive proposition for carbon forestry and/or for the production of high quality, naturally durable heartwood. The dataset compiled for this study was the best data available. While it cannot as yet be used to develop prescriptions for the establishment and maintenance of planted kauri stands, it does provide clues and directions that should be pursued in further research, however.

The behaviour of viscoplastic drops during formation and detachment from a capillary nozzle, free-fall, impact on a solid substrate and subsequent spreading are investigated experimentally by high-speed imaging. Drop dynamic behaviour is an integral component of many contemporary industrial processes ranging from fuelinjection systems in combustion engines to spray coating, agrochemical and pharmaceutical delivery, fire extinguishment and ink-jet printing. Yield-stress fluids are commonly used nowadays in products ranging from mayonnaise to hair-gel. It is hoped that through understanding the dynamics of viscoplastic fluids, additional spray applications can be developed that will help to advance and optimise industrial processes. Viscoplastic fluids exhibit shear-thinning behaviour when the applied stress exceeds a certain threshold value, called the yield-stress. Below this threshold however, the fluid behaves like an elastic solid. By comparing the behaviour of viscoplastic drops with both Newtonian and shear-thinning fluids, yield-stress is shown to be capable of altering detachment behaviour, drop shape during free-fall, impact morphology and the final sessile shape of drops after spreading. For drops attached to the end of a capillary tube, growth continues until a maximum supportable tensile stress is reached in the drop neck. After this critical point, drops become unstable and detach. The critical break-up behaviour of low yield-stress drops is found to be similar to those of Newtonian and shear-thinning fluids. Above a threshold value however, characterised in terms of the ratio between yield-stress magnitude and capillary pressure, yield-stress forces exceed surface tension forces and the maximum tensile stress achievable in the drop neck at critical stability is governed by the extensional yield-stress, established using the von Mises criterion. This threshold value can also be used to characterise equilibrium drop shapes during free-fall. Whereas Newtonian, shear-thinning and low yield-stress fluids form near spherical equilibrium drop shapes, fluids above a threshold value become increasingly more prolate as the yield-stress increases. Upon impact, viscoplastic drops can exhibit central peaks at the end of inertial spreading. The influence of yield-stress magnitude on impact behaviour is qualitatively established by measuring the size of these peaks. Peaks indicate that deformation during impact is localized and within a threshold radius, shear stresses will not be large enough to overcome the yield-stress, therefore fluid within this region will not deform from the drop shape prior to impact. After impact, spreading will be dependent on the surface energy. Again, the ratio of the yield-stress magnitude to the capillary pressure can be used to characterise the final sessile drop shape. Whilst the equilibrium contact angle of Newtonian, shear-thinning and low yield-stress drops is independent of the yield-stress magnitude, above a threshold value, contact angles vary as a function of yield-stress magnitude. Whilst the research presented in this thesis highlights how fluid yield-stress can influence drop dynamics, some results are only qualitative. To establish more quantitative results, computational fluid dynamics methods should be used to examine viscoplastic drop dynamics. This research should focus primarily on impact behaviour, an aspect that has not received much attention previously. Modelling shear-thinning and viscoplastic fluid behaviour can be achieved by incorporating the relevant rheological models into the flow equations and examining impact morphology using a volume of fluid method. Numerical results can then be directly compared with the experimental results. Useful further experimentation could examine the relaxation behaviour of diamagnetically levitated viscoplastic drops. The results from this work could provide further insight into what rheological model best describes viscoplastic behaviour for shear-stresses below the yield-point.

Durant cette thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés à la problématique de la captation de mouvement sans marqueurs. Une approche classique est basée sur l'utilisation d'un modèle prédéfini du sujet, et est divisée en deux phases : celle d'initialisation, où la pose initiale du sujet est estimée, et celle de suivi, où la pose actuelle du sujet est estimée à partir des précédentes. Souvent, la phase d'initialisation est faite manuellement, rendant impossible l'utilisation en direct, ou nécessite des actions spécifiques du sujet. Nous proposons une phase d'initialisation automatique et temps-réel, utilisant l'information topologique extraite par squelettisation d'une reconstruction 3D du sujet. Cette information est représentée sous forme d'arbre (arbre de données), qui est mis en correspondance avec un arbre utilisé comme modèle, afin d'identifier les différentes parties du sujet. Pour obtenir une telle méthode, nous apportons des contributions dans les domaines de la topologie discrète et de la théorie des graphes. Comme notre méthode requiert le temps réel, nous nous intéressons d'abord à l'optimisation du temps de calcul des méthodes de squelettisation, ainsi qu'à l'élaboration de nouveaux algorithmes rapides fournissant de bons résultats. Nous nous intéressons ensuite à la définition d'une mise en correspondance efficace entre l'arbre de données et celui décrivant le modèle. Enfin, nous améliorons la robustesse de notre méthode en ajoutant des contraintes novatrices au modèle. Nous terminons par l'application de notre méthode sur différents jeux de données, démontrantses propriétés : rapidité robustesse et adaptabilité à différents types de sujet / This manuscript deals with the problem of markerless motion capture. An approach to thisproblem is model-based and is divided into two steps : an initialization step in which the initialpose is estimated, and a tracking which computes the current pose of the subject using infor-mation of previous ones. Classically, the initialization step is done manually, for bidding the possibility to be used online, or requires constraining actions of the subject. We propose an automatic real-time markerless initialization step, that relies on topological information provided by skeletonization of a 3D reconstruction of the subject. This topological information is then represented as a tree, which is matched with another tree used as modeldescription, in order to identify the different parts of the subject. In order to provide such a method, we propose some contributions in both digital topology and graph theory researchfields. As our method requires real-time computation, we first focus on the speed optimization of skeletonization methods, and on the design of new fast skeletonization schemes providing good results. In order to efficiently match the tree representing the topological information with the tree describing the model, we propose new matching definitions and associated algorithms. Finally, we study how to improve the robustness of our method by the use of innovative con-straints in the model. This manuscript ends by a study of the application of our method on several data sets, demon-strating its interesting properties : fast computation, robustness, and adaptability to any kindof subjects

L'objet de cette étude est de mieux formaliser et modéliser de façon générique le processus de structuration d'un produit par le procédé de foisonnement, en reliant les paramètres opératoires aux propriétés des mousses formées et de contribuer ainsi à un meilleur pilotage de l'opération. Une ligne de foisonnement par battage en continu a été instrumentée et l'évolution du diamètre des bulles en fonction des paramètres du produit et du procédé a été suivie pour des milieux modèles newtoniens et rhéofluidifiants. L'analyse dimensionnelle à l'échelle du procédé a permis d'aboutir à un modèle physique de l'opération, et donc d'avoir une compréhension des phénomènes en présence. Elle a aussi permis d'intégrer les paramètres du produit et du procédé et de simplifier la représentation des résultats expérimentaux. Enfin, la cohérence de ce modèle avec d'autres issus de la littérature et une première approche de validation avec un produit réel, semble justifier son caractère générique. / The aim of this study is to better formalize and model in a generic way the structuring of a product by the foaming operation process, by linking the operating parameters to the foams properties and contribute to a better steering of the operation. A continuous whipping line was instrumented and the evolution of bubble diameter depending on both product and process parameters was characterized for Newtonian and shear-thinning model fluids. Dimensional analysis of the process has lead to a physical model of the operation, and therefore makes possible the understanding of the phenomena involved. It also helped to integrate the product and the process parameters and simplify the representation of experimental results. Finally, the consistency of this model with others from the literature and a first validation with a real product seems to justify his relevance.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1986 F73 / Master of Science / Agronomy

O desbaste é uma técnica silvicultural tradicional e amplamente adotada, consiste na remoção de uma porção da área basal do povoamento florestal com o principal objetivo de reduzir a competição por recursos e concentrar o crescimento nas árvores alvo da colheita final, porém em sistemas agroflorestais essa técnica também beneficia outros componentes do sistema, se bem planejada. O objetivo deste estudo foi definir uma estratégia de desbaste em sistemas silvipastoris em áreas de déficit hídrico. O experimento foi conduzido em uma área plantada em 2011 com Eucalyptus urophylla x grandis, espaçamento 9 m por 3 m, em consorcio com Brachiaria brizantha marandu (plantada em 2013), implantada em 2013, localizado no município de Correntina - BA. Em 2015, o experimento foi instalado no delineamento de blocos casualizados, com três blocos e seis tratamentos. As intensidades de desbastes foram as seguintes (representada pela porcentagem de árvore removida por renque): 0%-0%, 50%-33%, 100%-0%, 50%-50%, 50%-66%, 100%-33%. A parcela total tem formato retangular e tamanho de 100 por 54 m, abrangendo seis renques, e a parcela útil de tamanho de 75 por 18 metros e abrangendo dois renques. Foram realizadas cinco avaliações, em intervalos de três meses, do componente arbóreo, sendo mensurados o DAP, altura, altura da copa, área da copa e índice de área foliar. Foram realizadas quatro avaliações, repetidas a cada três meses, de biomassa da pastagem e umidade do solo, para a pastagem foram realizadas nove amostras sistemáticas por parcela em uma área de 0,25 m2 e cortes realizados na altura de 20 cm. Para o solo foram coletadas duas amostras nas profundidades de 20 e 40 cm do solo, na mesma localidade onde foram realizadas a coleta de amostras de pastagem. A avaliação do componente arbóreo mostrou que o DAP, comprimento da copa em relação à altura, área da copa tiveram resposta positiva com o desbaste, porém a altura mostrou uma resposta negativa com o desbaste. A área basal do sistema silvipastoril e a produção de biomassa da planta forrageira apresentaram relação inversa, pois o sombreamento do componente arbóreo tem relação positiva com a área basal e a produção de pastagem tem relação negativa com o sombreamento. A produção de matéria seca da pastagem teve uma resposta positiva ao desbaste quando comparado com o tratamento sem desbaste. As densidades de 370 arv.ha-1 e 142 arv.ha-1 resultaram em menor umidade do solo. O desbaste teve efeito positivo na conservação de água por diminuir a evapotranspiração total do componente arbóreo, porém altas intensidades de desbaste diminuíram a umidade do solo, devido ao aumento da evapotranspiração do solo e da pastagem. O desbaste mais adequado foi de intensidades moderadas, com área basal residual entre 4 m2/ha na idade de 7 anos e arranjos com um coeficiente de retangularidade menor que 2. / Thinning is a traditional and widely adopted silvicultural technique, consisting of the removal of a portion of the basal area of the forest stands with the main objective of reducing the competition for resources and concentrating the growth in the final harvest trees. The adoption of silvopastoral systems has been growing in Brazil and with this, the opportunity to produce lumber, but little information is available on the management of these types of crops. The objective of this study was to define a strategy of thinning silvopastoral systems in areas of water deficit, taking into account the production of sawn wood and pasture. The experiment was conducted in an area planted in 2011 with Eucalyptus urophylla x grandis, spaced 9 m by 3 m, in a consortium with Brachiaria brizantha marandu (planted in 2013), established in 2013, located in the municipality of Correntina - BA. In 2015, the experiment was installed in a randomized complete block design with three blocks and six treatments. The treatments and intensities of thinning were (represented as percentage of trees removed by rows): 0% -0%, 50% -33%, 100% -0%, 50% -50%, 50-66%, 100% -33%. The total plot has a rectangular shape and size of 100 by 54 meters, covering six rows, and the measurement plot size of 75 by 18 meters and comprising two rows. Five evaluations were performed, at three month intervals, of the tree component, and the DBH, height, crown height, crown area and leaf area index were measured. Four evaluations, repeated every three months, of pasture biomass and soil moisture were carried out. Nine systematic samples were taken per plot in an area of 0.25 m2 and cuts were performed at a height of 20 cm. For the soil, two samples were collected at depths of 20 and 40 cm from the soil, in the same locality where the grazing samples were collected. The evaluation of the tree component showed that the DBH, canopy length in relation to height, crown area had a positive response with thinning, but height showed a negative response to thinning. The basal area of the silvopastoral system and the biomass production of the forage plant resulted an inverse relation, since the shading of the tree component has a positive relation with the basal area and the pasture production has negative relation with the shading. The dry matter production of the pasture had a positive response to thinning when compared to the treatment without thinning. The densities of 370 arv.ha-1 and 142 arv.ha-1 resulted in lower soil moisture. Thinning had a positive effect on water conservation by reducing total evapotranspiration of the tree component, but high thinning intensities have reduced soil moisture due to increased evapotranspiration of soil and pasture. The most adequate thinning for silvopastural system is of medium intensities, with a retained basal area around 4 m2/ha and arrangements with a rectangular coefficient lower than 2.

O presente trabalho aborda a ciclagem de nutrientes e aspectos do microclima em plantações de Eucalyptus grandis de 20 anos, manejadas pelo método CCT, em 3 intensidades de desbaste (T0 = 0%, T1 = 67% e T2 = 83% de desbaste). As áreas de estudo localizam-se na Fazenda Santa Terezinha, propriedade da empresa Eucatex S.A., no município de Bofete - SP. O clima da região é do tipo Cwa, segundo a classificação de Köpen, e o solo é classificado como Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo transição para Areia Quartzosa. Em relação aos aspectos microclimáticos, verificou-se que os tratamentos desbastados (T1 e T2) interceptaram menos luz que os tratamento testemunha (T0). Seus valores de radiação fotossinteticamente ativa e ILR (%) foram, em geral, maiores que os do T0. As temperaturas mensais variaram pouco entre os tratamentos. O T2 apresentou a maior amplitude térmica, e as temperaturas médias foram ligeiramente superiores às dos demais tratamentos. Em todas as profundidades (0-5, 6-30 e 31-60 cm), o T0 manteve os maiores teores de umidade do solo. A deposição de serapilheira (estudada de outubro de 1998 a setembro de 1999) foi estatisticamente semelhante entre os tratamentos, embora os tratamentos com desbaste (T1 e T2) tenham depositado quantias ligeiramente maiores. Os teores de nutrientes e a sua transferência, pela deposição mensal de serapilheira, foram em geral mais altos nos tratamentos com desbaste. As taxas de deposição anual nos tratamentos T0, T1 e T2 foram de 10,2; 10,9; 10,4 t/ha/ano, respectivamente. A biomassa de serapilheira acumulada sobre o solo foi de 18,1 t/ha no T0, 13,4 t/ha no T1 e 14,8 t/ha no T2. Nos tratamentos com desbaste, os teores médios anuais de nutrientes da serapilheira acumulada foram geralmente iguais ou maiores que os do T0; porém, seus estoques foram inferiores aos do T0. A decomposição da serapilheira foi mais rápida nos tratamentos com desbaste, provocando menores acúmulos desta sobre o solo. Os estoques de P, K, Ca e Mg no solo foram superiores nos tratamentos desbastados (principalmente no T1). Devido à sua lenta velocidade de decomposição e imobilização dos nutrientes na camada de serapilheira, o T0 apresentou os menores estoques de nutrientes no solo (exceto para N). A aplicação de desbastes progressivos em povoamentos de eucaliptos, quando manejados em regimes de ciclos mais longos do que usualmente vem sendo aplicados atualmente (5 - 6 anos), podem favorecer a reciclagem dos nutrientes que entram no ecossistema, conservando mais eficientemente seus estoques no sistema (solo + serapilheira) e contribuindo para manter a produtividade do sítio. / This study characterizes nutrient cycling and microclimate conditions within a 20-year-old Eucalyptus grandis plantation with three thinning intensity treatments of Correlated Curve Trend (CCT) management method (T0 = 0%, T1 = 67% and T2 = 83% of thinning intensity). This project was located in Bofete - SP, in the Santa Terezinha Farm, of Eucatex S.A. The climate of site is Cwa, according to Köpen classification, and the type soil is a Haplustox with a transition to Quartz Psamment. In respect to microclimate measurements, the thinned treatments (T1 and T2) intercepted less light than the non-thinned treatment (T0). Its photosynthetic radiation and IRL (%) were generally higher then the T0’values. Montly temperature fluctuations were minimal among the treatments. T2 presented the highest thermical fluctuation, and their temperatures were higher than the other treatments. At all soil depths (0-5, 6-30 and 31-60 cm), the moisture contents were greater in T0. Litter production (measured from October, 1998 to September, 1999) was similar among the treatments, but there was somewhat more litterfall in thinned treatments (T1 and T2). Annual litterfall in treatments T0, T1 and T2 were 10.22, 10.87 and 10.39 t/ha/year respectively. The concentration of nutrients and their return through litterfall were generally greater in thinned treatments. Biomass of forest floor litter was 18.13 t/ha in T0, 13.43 t/ha in T1 and 14.83 t/ha in T2. Thinned treatments had equal to or higher than annual concentrations of forest floor litter when compared with T0. However, the amount of nutrients was less than T0. Litter decomposition was faster in the thinned treatments, and there was less forest floor litter in thinned treatments. Soil P, K, Ca and Mg contents were higher in thinned treatments, especially in T1. Due to its slow forest floor litter decomposition and its consequent nutrient immobilization, T0 had lower soil nutrient contents, except for N. The use of thinning practices in long rotation can improve nutrient cycling of atmospheric input, conserve the amount of nutrients in the soil-litter system and improve the site productivity.