Avaliou-se o desempenho de Pinus taeda L. aos quatro anos de idade, plantado em diferentes espaçamentos, simulando espaços vitais entre 1 m² e 16 m². O experimento foi implantado em 2002, com mudas de Pinus taeda L. produzidas com sementes de pomar clonal. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso, com cinco repetições e nove tratamentos (espaçamentos 1,0 x 1,0; 2,0 x 1,0; 2,0 x 2,0; 3,0 x 2,5; 3,0 x 3,0; 3,0 x 3,5; 4,0 x 3,0; 4,0 x 3,5; 4,0 x 4,0 m), constituÃdos por 25 mudas e uma linha de bordadura. Não foram significantes as correlações entre espaço vital e altura, nem entre espaço vital e DAP. O diâmetro dos ramos, entretanto, está correlacionado com o espaço vital. Existe correlação entre altura e DAP e entre DAP e diâmetro de ramos. A altura das árvores variou entre 4,08 m e 4,60 m, e o DAP entre 5,65 cm e 7,69 cm. Não se detectou diferenças significantes no crescimento da altura e do DAP. O espaço vital afetou o crescimento dos ramos, cujos diâmetros variaram entre 11,45 mm e 19,01 mm. Quanto maior o espaço vital, maiores os diâmetros dos ramos.
Growth of Pinus taeda at early age as function of the growing space. It was evaluated the growth of four years old Pinus taeda L. planted at nine different spacings (1.0 x 1.0; 2.0 x 1.0; 2.0 x 2.0; 3.0 x 2.5; 3.0 x 3.0; 3.0 x 3.5; 4.0 x 3.0; 4.0 x 3.5; 4.0 x 4.0 m), simulating vital spaces ranging from 1 m² to 16 m². The trial was established in 2002 with seedlings of Pinus taeda L. originated from a clonal seed orchard. It was used randomized blocks with five replications, each plot with 25 seedlings, excluding a border line. There were no significant correlation between growing space and height or between growing space and DBH. The diameter of branches was correlated with growing space. Positive correlations were obtained between height and DBH and between branch diameter and DBH. Tree height ranged from 4.08 m to 4.60 m and the DBH from 5.65 cm e 7.69 cm and there were no significant differences for both variables. The growing space affected branch growth. Larger growing spaces resulted in larger branch diameter. Branch diameters ranged from 11.45 mm to 19.01 mm.