RCAAP Repository

The objective of this review was to evaluate the potential of forest biomass production for energy in agroforestry systems (AFS). The use of energy from wood and forest residues has been stimulated in Brazil and in the world in recent decades, due to environmental questions and its technical and economic viability. However, its development in AFS requires further studies. It was analyzed the main technical and economic characteristics of wood production for energy generation in AFS, highlighting tree species, site quality, socioeconomic and agroforestry practices. All maim assessed studies were from Europe, United States, Asia and Africa, while in Brazil there are still lack of those studies, although the country is major consumer of forest biomass for energy. All studies pointed out that there is technical and economic potential for wood fuel production in agroforestry systems, for farmers supply, and for commercialization of quality wood for energy use. Nevertheless, this relationship depends mainly on: greater wood fuel market structuring; regional socioeconomic characteristics and environmental conditions.

Trees outside forests (ToF) is often a misunderstood category. This is the case in Brazil as shown by the lack of data on ToF reported until now by the country. In this article, ToF are understood in relation to the FAO definition of forest because it is the definition used in Brazil for the National Forest Inventory. I provide a definition of ToF, detail the main sets as inferred from this definition, propose to focus on a category of ToF as an efficient and realistic first step towards the assessment of ToF countrywide, and I illustrate the diversity of ToF-based systems in Brazil, from relatively isolated trees in agroforestry fields to dense mixed tree formations that cannot be distinguished from forests on satellite images. A recent publication has placed Brazil as the world leader in terms of the total biomass carbon stored by one ToF set, trees on agricultural land. This result could stimulate the desire for Brazil to better assess not only trees on agricultural land but also trees on urban land, the two major sets of trees outside forests. The present paper can help those who will undertake this challenging and exciting task.

Due to low rates of rooting it is difficult to propagate selected clones of Acacia mearnsii by cuttings. The purpose of this study was to define a protocol for disinfection of nodal segments for in vitro introduction, aiming to improve the species genetically for forest plantation. Combination of different products concentration (70% ethyl alcohol, sodium hypochlorite, plant preservative mixture and mercuric chloride), immersion period and size of nodal segment were tested. The best disinfection treatment was the combination of 70% ethanol, 0.4% mercuric chloride, sodium hypochlorite at 2% in nodal segments of 10 mm, with 80% survival.

The first wood characteristic perceivable by human vision is the color, with the possibility of indicating its use, in addition to correlating with the demands of the final consumer. The color is a hard parameter to determine due to its subjective nature; therefore methods for its mathematical determination were created, as the comparative method of Munsell and the quantitative method called colorimetry. Over time the second was consolidated because of its high precision. The most commonly used colorimetric method in wood science is the CIELAB system, consisting of three axes, the coordinate L* representing the luminosity or clarity, the coordinate a* representing the red-green axis and the coordinate b* representing the yellow-blue axis. Besides the colorimetric classification of the wood, the colorimetry is efficient in the determination of some properties of the wood, in the evaluation of the effect of the thermal-treatment, of the biodegradant agents’ action and the weathering on the wood. The main objective of this work was to highlight the importance and applicability of colorimetry as a technique applied to wood science and technology.

We performed a forest growth dynamics study in Acre State, Brazilian southwestern Amazon, where a 20 ha area was logged in 1992. The study was based permanent sample plots (1 ha) established in the logged area and in an unlogged forest immediately after logging operations finished. Forest dynamics parameters were assessed in terms of aboveground dried biomass (AGB). During the study period, three extreme climate events triggered a high impact on both logged and unlogged areas, producing AGB losses greater than those estimated for logging. Twenty years after logging, ingrowth and mortality rates were similar to those expected in an undisturbed forest, and AGB recovery was significantly faster in the logged areas. Forest management, when properly applied, can promote faster forest AGB recovery. We suggest that forest management could be considered as an alternative to adapt to extreme climate events, by promoting controlled disturbances, which should minimize tree mortality and biomass loss.

The use of organic inputs, which are able of promoting plant growth, is an alternative to anticipate forest seedlings trading in nursery garden. Caroba (Jacaranda micrantha) is a native forest species from the southern of Brazil, which presents several potential uses. This study aims to analyze the efficiency of vermicompost and fungal isolates of the genus Trichoderma as growth promoters in J. micrantha seedlings. The experiment was carried out with nine substrates treatments, containing different percentages of vermicompost (0, 25 and 50%) on the control substrate (sifted soil and commercial substrate Carolina Soil® in 1:1 ratio) in the presence or absence of T. asperelloides and T. virens. We used a completely randomized design with 18 repetitions per treatment. After 90 days of seeding we determined: shoot height, leaf number, stem diameter, dry weight of shoots and roots and Dickson quality index. Significant effects on growth promotion of caroba seedlings were observed for isolated or combined application of Trichoderma sp. and vermicompost. T. asperelloides isolate was superior then T. virens in promoting J. micrantha growth. It was concluded that the use of vermicompost and both species of Trichoderma sp. promoted growth of J. micrantha seedlings, and the combined use of both biologic inputs promoted more pronounced increase in plants growth.

This study had the objective to analyze the floristic, structure and diversity of regeneration of a forest fragment located in the urban area of Dois Vizinhos, Paraná State. We used the census method and the traditional phytosociological descriptors as parameters of analysis, giving indications about the ecological value of the fragment. The results showed the occurrence of 231 individuals in 2,500 m² area, distributed in 35 species of 22 botanical families. The families with the highest number of species were Lauraceae and Myrtaceae, with three species each, followed by Boraginaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Meliaceae, Myrsinaceae, Rosaceae and Sapindaceae with two species each. The others were represented by one species each. Among eight exotic species, four are potential invaders, such as Ligustrum lucidum (34.0%) and Dyospyrus kaki (13.6%) that presented high coverage value (CV) and dominance with more than 50% of the registered individuals. Most of the species belong to the initial stages of succession. In the regeneration, we found 20 species, with only tree exotics and, among them, only one invasive (L. lucidum). The occurrence of exotic invasive species in urban forest fragments requires attention of public managers to the necessity of silvicultural interventions to recover their floristic and original structure.

Minquartia guianensis Aubl. (acariquara) occurs at Acre, Amazonas, Roraima, Pará and Amapá states, with a great market demand and utility in the Amazon region. It is used mainly in civil construction due to its high durability and singular beauty, because of reentrances in its trunk, resulting in high market value. Most of used trees present small diameters, what is a critical factor for their management and commercialization. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate M. guianensis diametric growth and cutting cycle through the analysis of time of passage among diameter classes, 31 years after logging, at Tapajós National Forest, Pará State, Brazil. Five treatments were established and in each one 12 permanent sample plots of 0.25 ha were installed. All trees with diameter at 1.3 m above ground level (DBH) ≥ 5 cm were measured from 1981 to 2012. Trees with DBH ≤ 50 cm have potential to be managed, due to the growth stagnation presented in larger diameter classes. These results may support silvicultural decisions to sustainable management.

The objective was to analyze the floristic, diversity and equability of the tree shrub stratum of home gardens (QA) in Mariana re-settlement located between Palmas and Porto Nacional municipalities in Tocantins State, Brazil. Three 20 x 30 m plots were installed in each home garden, totalizing 0.72 ha of sampled area. All shrub-tree individuals had its circumference at 1.3 m above ground level (CBH) measured when CBH ≥ 10 cm. A total of 477 individuals, 81 species, 34 families and 73 genera were verified in all QA. Shannon diversity index (H’) was 3.68 and Pielou equability indice (J’) was 0.83, for all sampled area. Individually, QA1, QA2, QA3 and QA4 presented H’ = 2.52; 3.27; 2.66 and 2.94, and J’ = 0.78; 0.90; 0.77 and 0.85, respectively. It was possible to infer that the studied QA showed high richness and diversity, evidencing great environmental heterogeneity and low ecological dominance.

Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) O. Kuntze., also known as brazilian-pine, is a forest native species from Brazil. A. angustifolia is more vulnerable to global climate change, considering it is living in cold and humid mountain regions from southern and southeastern Brazil. Among the native Brazilian forest species, it presents one of the greatest growth and genetic gain potential. It shows excellent wood quality and can still be used in human and animal food, presenting great economic, social and environmental value. In order to determine current distribution of the species and better know its habitat, we worked in the regions representing the borders of natural occurrence, identifying populations and getting trees altitude and geographycal position. Field information along with secondary data from the Environmental Information Center (CRIA) were used to map current distribution of brazilian-pine and to project the distribution in the next decades, with the projection of future climate scenarios. Mapping studies of ecological niches in present and future climate scenarios characterizing the environments in which they are living is essential for a better understanding of the risks of species extinction and which mitigating measures could be adequate to reduce the impacts of global climate change on species, thus contributing to the conservation and knowledge of this important species.

During one year the phenology of the Colombian mahogany (Cariniana pyriformis Miers), a native forest species, was registered in a rural area of the municipality of El Carmen de Chucuri, department of Santander, northeastern Colombia. Flowering showed a peak at the end of the rainy season (October and November). Subsequently, trees defoliated more intensely during the driest months (December to February). The mature fruit phenophase was more intense at the beginning of the next rainy season (April to June). Results showed the tendency that evaluated C. pyiriformis phenophases register annual cycles and are related to rainfall in this region.

The aim of this study was to compare mycorrhizal infection and quality indicators of Calophyllum brasiliense and Anandenanthera colubrina var. cebil seedlings from Pantanal Wetland Biome, Brazil, produced in non-fumigated substrate under combined inoculation with Glomus clarum (Gc) + Gigaspora margarita (Gm). Seedlings were produced from seeds of local populations seeds, inoculated and non-inoculated with Gc + Gm. They were randomly selected and evaluated for morphological quality parameters, percentage, intensity and morphology of mycorrhizal colonization of fine roots. We concluded that, under the study conditions, Gc + Gm inoculation promotes changes in the percentage, intensity (A. colubrina var. cebil) or morphology (C. brasiliense) of root infection when compared to non-inoculated seedlings. Increase in quality of seedlings was observed in C. brasiliense under combined inoculation with Gc + Gm, indicating the potential of mycorrhizal fungi use in this specie.

The objectives of this study were to analyze the complex morphological characteristics of fruits and diaspores of inharé, and provide support for the recognition of the plant in the early stage of development. The inflorescences have on average 2.2 cm x 2.9 cm x 2.6 cm, with 4-10 fruits entered the fleshy perianth. The fruits, monospermics drupes, have a fine-gelatinous pericarp. The endocarp form the pyrene, globular, slightly flattened, brown opaque, smooth and hardened, measuring 0.9 cm x 0.8 cm x 0.6 cm. The seed has exalbuminous membranous integument; the embryo is full axial and reserves are in crass and isofils cotyledons. Germination is kind hypogeal cryptocotylar; with the removal of the core the primary root protrusion occurs after 10 days of sowing and the normal seedlings at 30 days is completely formed. The seedling has the first eophylls with alternates spirals phyllotaxis, elliptical shape with base attenuate, apex acute to acuminate and jagged edges; epicotyl is cylindrical, about 1.0 cm long, has cataphylls; the root system is well developed, with many secondary roots. Young plants, between 50 cm and 115 cm in height, show morphological similarities to adult individual mainly in leaves and stems.

The present study aimed to analyze the behavior of the Monte Alegre Formula (MAF) and to quantify the heat focus detected by reference satellites, comparing them with the fires that occurred in Chapada dos Guimarães National Park from 2007 to 2015. Heat analysis was performed using images from AQUA, TERRA and NOAA satellites, whose daily data of detected foci were used to compose the time series over the years, allowing the analysis of trends in the numbers of foci for the park. The data were acquired in the platform of the National Institute of Space Research, in the historical data base of the National Institute of Meteorology and by to the manager of the park. In most years there was an overestimation of the number of heat sources in relation to the number of fire occurrences. The TERRA satellite presented values were closer to the number of fire records in the park. It was observed that 87.69% of the fires were validated in relation to MAF, where 60% belonged to very high hazard class and 27.69% were classified in the high hazard class, demonstrating the effectiveness of MAF in relation to records of fires occurring in the park.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of saline stress on germination and initial growth of canafistula (Peltophorum dubium (Sprengel) Taubert), tamboril (Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong.) and pau-formiga (Triplaris americana L.), in addition to determining the maximum tolerance to the presence of NaCl in imbibitions solution. A completely randomized design with four replicates of 50 seeds was used in factorial scheme 3 x 5. The response of the three species to five levels of osmotic potentials (0.0; -0.3; -0.6; -1.2 e -1.8 MPa) was evaluate, simulating saline stress with NaCl. At 28 days after sowing, germination percentage; germination speed index (GSI); germination time; root length and root shoot s and total dry mass were evaluated. Germination and initial growth of tamboril and canafístula were negatively affected by saline concentration increase of the medium. Pau-formiga showed more tolerance to saline stress, presenting an increase in the mean values of germination percentage, GSI, length of the largest root and total dry mass production in osmotic potentials varying from -0.81 to -1.15 MPa. The highest average production of shoot, roots and total dry mass was observed in tamboril seedlings.

In Sergipe, every year, wildfires damage Atlantic Forest conservation units. Therefore, it is necessary to carry on studies that aims to understand fire behavior in such forests. This work intended to quantify the surface fuel load in three different vegetation types the Mata Junco Wildlife Refuge, in Capela, Sergipe State, Brazil. In each site 20 plots of 2.25 m2 were delimited, where all fuel load was collected and classified. Bamboo fields (7.60 t ha-1) and closed forests (7.02 t ha-1) presented the highest fuel load, while the transition areas presented lower value (2.08 t ha-1). The moisture content of the fuel load changed according to the vegetation type. In the closed forests and transition areas the moisture content was above the “moisture of extinction”. The assessment of the wildfire hazard showed that the bamboo fields presented the highest fire hazard.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of soil use systems from Southwest of Piaui State, Brazil, in growth and natural nodulation of tamboril [Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell) Morong] seedlings. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse at the Federal University of Piaui, in Bom Jesus, PI. The experiment design was completely randomized with ten replications. Treatments were consisted of four soil use systems (two areas of native forest, one grassland and one agriculture area). Seedlings were collected 85 days after planting, when height (H), collar diameter (CD), number of nodules (NN), nodule fresh matter (NFM), shoot (SDM), roots (RDM) and total dry matter (TDM), ratio of shoot and roots dry matter (SDM/TDR), Dickson quality index (DQI) and nitrogen accumulation in shoots (NAS) were evaluated. Nodulation occurred in all soil use systems. Seedlings grown under soils from agriculture and grassland areas showed higher performance on nodulation, H, CD, SDM and NAS than soils from native forest areas.

We intend to identify the sustainability dimensions that can be evaluated in forest management plans (FMP) of natural vegetation of Caatinga and to describe which of those are best considered in licensed and active plans. The guidelines recommended by the environmental agency was analyzed in a sample of 40 FMP licensed in Pernambuco, Brazil, observing the attendance to the proposed items. The technical dimension, with description of quantitative aspects of the timber production is the best described, although it has only achieved 23% according to the requirements. Social aspects are not contemplated in the plans and criteria of the environmental and economic dimensions are poorly observed. The normative requirements for the elaboration of a FMP of natural vegetation of Caatinga do not offer elements to evaluate the sustainability and the plans show low level of attendance to the requirements.

Studies on the quantification of forest biomass in Caatinga are important due to the scarcity of information related to the theme in the biome and in particular in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biomass stock and their distribution in the components of the aerial part of forest species with higher population density and the potential to use the biomass expansion factor (FEB) to obtain estimates of aerial biomass in the area of Caatinga, located in Contendas do Sincorá National Forest, BA. The biomass was quantified by destructive method. Representative trees of the nine species with the highest population density were selected felled, and distributed in three diametric classes. The average amount of total biomass and carbon per tree, considering all the species sampled, were estimated at 50.7 kg tree-1 and 25.3 kg tree-1. Jatropha mollíssima is dissimilar in relation to the biomass allocation (branches > stem > leaves) in relation to the other species (stem > branches > leaves). The highest values of individual biomass were verified in the species Commiphora leptophloeos (171 kg tree-1 ), Coccoloba oblonga (76 kg tree-1 ) and Pseudobombax simplicifolium (40 kg tree-1 ). The mean FEB obtained for all species (1.74) provided estimated values close to the real ones.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the annual variation in seed yield of crabwood, and discuss implications for multiple use management of the species. Data were collected in a forest area in the southern of Roraima State in a permanent plot of 9 ha (300 m x 300 m) with a natural population of crabwood. Seed production was monitored of 115 trees during four years. Seed yield varied among years. May to July was the period of bigger yield. Few trees (22.6%) concentrated the bigger part of seeds yield (80.7%) and the most productive trees had diameter at 1.30 m above ground level between 40 cm - 70 cm. Therefore we recommend 70 cm as minimum cutting diameter for wood exploitation. For sustainable crabwood seed management we recommend to restrict seed collection from the most productive trees and only during the period of maximum seed dispersal.