The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of spacing on the stem shape of Pinus taeda L. trees. Data from a spacing experiment carried out at the company IGARAS, in Santa Catarina, Brazil, were used for this purpose. The analyzed spacings were: 1.5 x 1.0 m; 2.0 x 1.0 m; 2.5 x 1.0 m; 1.5 x 2.0 m; 2.0 x 2.0 m; 1.5 x 3.0 m; 2.5 x 2.0 m; 2.0 x 3.0 m; and 2.5 x 3.0 m. The taper models tested were those proposed by Demaerschalk, Garay and Biging, with the model of Garay being selected. Through model identity tests, it was verified that the smallest spacings resulted in less conical shape than the largest ones.
Spacing; model identity test; nonlinear regression models
