RCAAP Repository

We evaluated the productivity and survival of Poincianella pyramidalis, Senegalia bahiensis and Enterolobium contortisiliquum ministumps in different tubes sizes. Completely randomized design (CRD), containing three treatments (tubes of 50, 180, 280 cm³) were carried out with Poicianella pyramidalis, Senegalia bahiensis and Enterolobium contortisiliquum as experiments 1, 2 and 3, respectively. We analyzed ministumps survival after successive collections, number of sprouts per ministump every 15 days and number of minicuttings per ministump after successive collections. When data presented normality variance analysis and Tukey’s test were carried out at 5% probability. It was observed high survival of the ministumps for the three species after successive collections of minicuttings, indicating potential to use this technique. It was also noticed that small volume containers can affect sprout productivity negatively and in consequence the number of minicuttings per ministumps.

Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl. is a conifer which produces high-quality wood with potential industrial applications. However, the species shows low germination rates. This study was devoted to optimizing a protocol for shoot multiplication of S. sempervirens through micropropagation. Two genotypes, adapted to southern Brazil, constituted the source of explants for consecutive experiments aiming in vitro multiplication. We used the traditional MS (Murashige & Skoog) culture medium at 50% of its original concentration, supplemented with plant growth regulators under two approaches. For multiplication we combined α-naphtalene acetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzilaminopurine (BAP) at distinct concentrations. In the second experiment, we tested concentrations of three cytokinins types (BAP, kinetin  and 2-isopentheiladenine ). NAA at 0.1 mg L-1 enabled the production of shoots with higher mean length for the main branch. The use of kinetin in low concentrations provided the best performance for shoot multiplication, differing between two genotypes. We outline a recommendation of the most suitable plant growth regulators and their concentration for shoot multiplication of S. sempervirens, which might assist further work aiming at adventitious rooting and acclimatization. 

Despite the socioeconomic importance for the Amazon, knowledge about the factors that influence the production of Brazil nuts is still incipient. In this paper we evaluate the influence of precipitation and soil texture, flood and depth on seed production. The data were collected in native trees monitored in permanent plots of 9 ha (300 m x 300 m) in the municipality of Caracaraí, Roraima State, for five years. We used Pearson correlation to select the precipitation period and we conclude that the precipitation of September was positively correlated with fruit production. The soil variables were evaluated by ANOVA and we observed that higher precipitations in September, month of transition from dry to rainy season, correlated significantly and positively with seed production. Trees in deep soils with clay loam texture showed higher seed production than those in shallow soils.

Peltophorum dubium (Spreng.) Taub. is a Brazilian native forest species that is used in programs of environmental restoration, landscaping and civil construction. It is a seed-propagated plant, but the low physiological quality of the seeds associated with biotic and abiotic stresses can reduce the percentages of germination and emergence. Techniques that allow the expression of the physiological potential of the seeds can improve germination and vigor in short-term. One of these techniques is seeds osmoconditioning, especially under stressful conditions. This work aimed to study if the osmopriming increases germination and vigor of P. dubium seeds. The study consisted of three stages: I – choice of the ideal osmotic potential for imbibition; II – germination and vigor of the osmoprimed seeds under different water contents; III – osmopriming of four seed lots with different vigor. PEG 6000 solution with -0.6 MPa is recommended for osmoconditioning of P. dubium seeds aiming to improve germination and vigor. Seeds with water content close to 10% for osmoconditioning influences the vigor positively. Osmoconditioning can improve physiological aspects of P dubium seeds with good physiological quality. It can reduce germination-emergence time span, favoring stands with greater uniformity and lower probability of  biotic and abiotic factors influence

The process of botanical identification in commercial forest inventories in Amazon may involve several errors and entail losses to forest management. A common error is the variation of popular names, which have regional peculiarities and can be attributed to several species simultaneously. This study aims to analyze the richness of timber species exploited in the Brazilian Amazon and verify the regional variations of popular names of main species, aiming to identify patterns and cases of fidelity. Information on exploited and potential commercial trees was explored in 10 sustainable forest management plans in different categories and regions of the Brazilian Amazon. The analyzes showed high richness of commercial species, with low similarity among species, indicating local peculiarities for main species. Popular names presented a wide variation, with two distinct tendencies: use of the same popular name for several botanical species and use of several popular names for a single botanical species. Cases of fidelity were detected for popular names of main timber species. However, popular names are strongly related to botanical genera and families, and may vary intensely when the analysis requires identification at species level.

This research was carried out to assess the effect of plant spacing over “tachi-branco”growth, production, biomass allocation and wood energetic quality. The experiment was installed in forest/savanna transition area in the North region of Roraima State, Brazil in a randomized block design and five plant spacing (2 m x 2 m; 2.5 m x 2.5 m; 3 m x 2 m; 3 m x 2.5 m; and 3 m x 3 m). After 70 months trees diametric growth, biomass production and wood energy quality were evaluate. Plant spacing influenced diametric growth, volume and individual trunk biomass, but presented no influence on wood energetic qualities. The larger spacing (3 m x 3 m) was more advantageous due to higher accumulate biomass in the trunk and less plants to be planted lowering implantation costs. However, this species is not recommend in monoculture stands for energetic purposes in the studying area due to the low productivity observed.

The objective of this study was to biometrically characterize fruits and seeds of Astrocasia jacobinensis. We also aimed to evaluate the germination potential according to the fruit color and to determine the optimal temperature for germination tests. Fruits were harvested from 4 matrices trees in the Environmental Protection Area of “Lago de Pedra do Cavalo”, Bahia, State, Brazil. The fruits were used to install two experimental areas. In the first one we evaluated the germinative behavior according to fruit color using four replicates. The second experiment was used to test the optimal germination temperature, with tests conducted under constant temperatures (15, 25, 30, 35 °C) and alternating temperatures (25-30 and 15-30 °C), using four replicates per treatment. Evaluations for both experiments were performed daily. The fruits presented a mean size of 7.5 mm in length and 9.6 mm in diameter. The seeds were circular with a mean diameter of 3.52 mm. Green fruits have seeds with better germination potential. For future germination tests within this species we recommend a temperature within the range 25 °C to 30 °C. 

The aim of this study was to determine the energetic characteristics of the charcoal of five species from wood residues in the municipality of Gurupi, Tocantins State, Brazil, as well as evaluating the influence of final carbonization time and temperature. Twenty test samples were obtained from each of the five species. The charcoal was obtained by wood pyrolysis in a muffle furnace, where two heating speeds with final carbonization temperatures of 450 °C and 500 °C for 6 h and 7 h, respectively, were used. To determine the apparent density and the gravimetric yield, the charcoal was weighed on an analytical scale and measured with a caliper. The immediate chemical analysis (ICA) was carried out. It was used a muffle furnace to determine volatile materials, fixed carbon and ash and the calorific value was calculated. The gravimetric yield presented acceptable average values for all species and temperatures (36.4%). Acceptable values were found for volatile materials (27.7%), fixed carbon (70.6%) and ashes (1.7%). Calorific values were within the recommended standards, presenting high energetic potential. The recommended final temperature of carbonization is 500 °C.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the soil quality in areas of Caatinga under different management systems, with soil physical attributes as parameters. The forms of management adopted were: (1) area of sustainable management of Caatinga; (2) area of conventional management; and (3) native forest area. After 5 years, soil samples were collected in the areas at depths 0.00-0.20 m and 0.20-0.40 m for analysis of soil physical attributes. The results evidenced greater soil compaction in the area of conventional management. The sustainable management of Caatinga proved to be a promising technique for maintaining and recovering the soil physical properties.

This paper deals with the effect of thinning intensities on the wood quality of Pinus elliottii Engelm var. elliottii produced in plantations located in Southern Brazil. The following properties were analized: growth ring width, basic density, late wood percentage, fiber angle, chemical composition, fiber dimensions, shrinkage and static bending strength. The results pointed out that a higher thinning intensity increases basic density, late wood percent, growth ring width, grain angle, as well as tracheid and lumen diameter. Tracheid lenght and shrinkage decreased with increasing thinning intensity. Chemical composition and cell wall thicknesses were not affected. Wood produced in plots where 25% of its basal area was thinned had the higher static bending strength.

This paper presents the results of the adjustment of equations for estimating biomass of aerial compartments of Eucalyptus benthamii trees. The percentile allocation of biomass, in the compartments wood, bark, leaves and branches is also presented. The trees of Eucalyptus benthamii were sampled from stands of 12, 24, 36 and 48 months of age, planted at the spacing 3 m x 2 m, in the region of Guarapuava-PR. For the compartments considered, the generalized logarithmic model gave better indices of adjustment for branches and, together with logarithmic combined variable, the minor error for bark variable. Leaves and wood had minor error with model lnY=b0 +b1*lnDBH and logarithmic combined variable, respectively. The allocation of biomass in the different compartments was differentiated for each age. In the age of 12 months the greater percentile of biomass was in the leaves. However in the age of 48 months, wood had the greater percentage of biomass. The biomass allocation had the following ratios, respectively, for wood, bark, branches and leaves, 33, 3, 29 and 35% for the age of 24 months, 51, 5, 25 and 19% for the age of 24 months, 63, 5, 18 and 14% for the age of 36 months and 71, 7, 15 and 7% for the age of 48 months.

Azadirachta indica is a species of multiple uses originated from India. It belongs to Meliaceae family. This species was introduced in Brazil in 1993. The first experimental trials were established in the State of Goiás, specifically in “Cerrado” (Brazilian savanna) ecosystem. In Northern and Northwestern Brazil neem has been planted in small plots in precipitation conditions ranging from 600 mm (Petrolina, PE) to 2200 mm (Castanhal, PA). There are more cultivation in the States of São Paulo and Bahia and in Central Brazil, where precipitation ranges from 1000 to 2000 mm, especially concentrated in the summer. However, mostly of planted neem has not been based on the best indicating methodology of species, considering regional differences where adequate soil and climate conditions were not taken into account . This work aimed to provide information about soil and climate needs for neem based on the available literature.

Sample sizes required for the detection of significant differences among experimental treatments in scientific research are presented. An approach based on the magnitude of the coefficient of determination (R2) among treatments was used. The required sample sizes decrease with increase in R2. For detecting true differences with magnitudes of one standard deviation of the trait, the required sample size are 15 to 5 for R2 ranging from 5% to 70%.

Exploitation of imbuya (Ocotea porosa) occurred at the same time of Araucaria angustifolia. Imbuya is threatned of extinction, owns a valuable wood and for these characteristics, Embrapa Florestas, located at Colombo, State of Paraná, Brazil, decided to make efforts for its conservation ex-situ. Collects in Southern Brazil at the localities of Caçador, Canoinhas (State of Santa Catarina), Colombo and Bocaiúva do Sul (State of Paraná) were realized. A complete randomized design was used in 12 months age seedlings. In this experiment, height of thirty one progenies ordered in plots of five plants with four replications was measured. The general mean for height was 16,55 cm. The additive genetic variance estimate was 72,03, the heritability coefficient estimate in the level of average of progenies was 0,83 and selective accuracy was 0,91. Genetic gain will be 48,9% for the next generation of recurrent selection.

Growing annual crops and erva-mate is one way of increasing farm revenue and reducing initial costs. Lines of erva-mate were planted 6 m apart from each other, in 1994. Starting on the winter of 1995, seven soil cover crops were seeded annually: Avena strigosa, C, Lollium multiflorum , Vicia pilosa L., Raphanus sativus L., plant mix and weeds ( test plot ). On summer of 1996, five soil tillage systems were tested growing soybean: minimum tillage (ripping), no tillage, conventional tillage, rotary tillage and animal tracking moldboard tillage. First pruning was performed in 1998, and production pruning started in 1999, and was repeated every two years. Soil sampling for chemical and physical analysis was done during the winter of 1996 and 2001. There was significant difference of ervamate yields for both tillage systems and soil cover crops. The highest production was obtained tilling the interrow with animal tracking moldboard plow (5,5 kg/plant) whose yield was different from all other tillage systems, except from conventional tillage, in the harvesting of the year 2001. The highest erva-mate yield (5,8 kg/plant in 2001) was obtained growing Lollium multiflorum as soil cover crop, and the lowest yield (3,3 kg/plant in 2001) was obtained letting normal weeds grow on the interrow. It was observed an increase in soil resistance measured on planting line compared to values obtained on the interrow.

The objective of the present work was to compare three different methods of chemical analysis of vegetable tissue: the method of nitro-percloric digestion, Tedesco et al. and Adler & Wilcox. As material was analyzed 03 samples of the fraction leaves of the litter collected in each one of the two Seasonal Deciduous Forest fragments, collected in August of 1990 in the forest of the “Hill of the Elephant” (Santa Maria city, RS) and in August of 1995 in Santa Tereza’s forest, RS. The analyses were made at the Laboratory of Forest Ecology, in Department of Forest Sciences of UFSM. The results evidenced that the content of P extracted for the method of Adler & Wilcox and the nitro-percloric digestion was similar. The contents of K extracted for the three methods were similar. The method of nitropercloric digestion extracted high contents of Ca and relatively superiors of Mg. The method Tedesco et al. it presented smaller extraction efficiency for P, Ca and Mg. In spite of the largest extraction efficiency, the method of digestion nitropercloric presents larger use risks.

A provenance/progenies trial of grevílea (Grevillea robusta Cunn.) was established in the Ponta Grossa region, state of Paraná, Brazil. The purpose was to identify genetically superior individuals in order to assure good material for future seed orchard. The genetic matherial was based on 60 half-sib progenies from eighteen Australian provenances and one control. Progenies were evaluated in randomized blocks with seven replications, five plants per plot and spacing of 3 m x 3 m (9 m2 per plant). Significant gains were estimated through selection of the 200 best trees (23,33%), for cilindric volume, at 10 years age, based on genetic values, aiming to establish a seedling seed orchard; or selecting the best twenty trees (33,33%), towards a clonal seed orchard.

The present research work aimed to test several taper models and to select the one of the best adjustment. The used data, belonging to Duraflora S. A. Located in the county of Agudos, State of São Paulo, is composed of 1100 trees of Pinus oocarpa distributed in 11 management regimes. The adjusted models were: Polinomial of the 5th degree, Polinomial of 2nd degree, Polynomial of Fractionary power, beside the models of volume ratio from Amateis & Burkhart, and the one from Clutter. The selection of the best model was based on a “ ranking “ with the determination coefficient (R2) and the standard error of estimate in percentage (Syx%) and posterior graphic analysis of the stem profile to detect the model that provided diameter estimates more acurated inside and outside bark. Analyzing the results it was concluded that the best model to express, on the average, the diameter along the stem of the trees of Pinus oocarpa, and best describes the profile of the trees, was that one of Fractionary Power.

Acacia mearnsii is the third forest species more planted in Brazil, especially in small farms at Rio Grande do Sul State. The species is also known as black wattle and is important as a source of tannin, timber, pulpwood and rayon. Its fast growth results in high demand of nutrients and fertilization is necessary to keep site productivity. In this paper it is reported the results of the application of four doses of Phosphorous (0, 20, 40, 80g/tree as P2O5) and three of Potassium (0, 20, 40g/tree as K2O), in a factorial designed trial established on a chemically poor soil at the region of Ponta Grossa, State of Paraná, Brazil. Trees were implanted in a 3m X 2m spacing with 35 plants per plot. The fertilizers were applied in furrows between the rows at the moment of planting. The results obtained at 61 months allowed the following conclusions: Application of Phosphorous, Potassium and combination of both increased wood volume in relation to the control (from 19% to 70%). The greatest increase in wood volume (70%) were obtained for the combination of P and K with 40 g of P2O5 + 40 g of K2O.

Litter production and nutrient deposition were assessed in a four year old (Grevillea rubusta Cunn) plantation in Quedas do Iguaçu, southwestern of State Paraná. The trial was established on soil classified as Haplustox (LATOSSOLO VERMELHO Distroférrico). The results showed the following features: i) Grevillea produces a large amount of litter (1,267 Kg/ha); more than various Pinus and Eucalyptus atands in similar conditions; ii) The nutrient levels in the litter are not correlated whith volume of wood produced; (the only exception was the decrease of the level of P as volume increased; iii) A positive and significant (>90,0%) correlation was evident between volume of wood produced and amount of nutrients in the litter. iv) The largest amount of litter was produced by Fine Flower provenance, and the smallest by Albert River; v) Control plots deposited the largest amount of K and Zn while other nutrients (N, P, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe and Mn) were deposited in larger amounts by the Fine Flower provenance.