RCAAP Repository

The combustion with fluidized bed reactors has as main advantages the best energy utilization of combustible materials and a lower generation of pollutants. The fluidization success depends on the characteristics of the particles that compose the bed. This research aimed to perform a preliminary evaluation and characterization of the energy potential and the fluidization curves in fluidized beds formed by binary mixtures of eucalyptus chips + sand and mineral coal + sand. We tested: 1) physical characterization of solid fuels; 2) chemical characterization of combustible materials; 3) thermogravimetric analysis of fuels; 4) determination of the fluidization curves and minimum fluidization velocity for a polydisperse bed. We observed 19.15 MJ kg-1 of lower calorific value for eucalyptus chips and 10.1 MJ kg-1 for coal. The increase in biomass percentage in mixture caused a pressure drop in bed, indicating the formation of preferred paths and a necessity to increase fluid velocity. The fluidization of coal and Eucalyptus chips can be viable in a bubbling fluid bed process, motivating future theoretical and experimental studies involving the application of this methodology in the development of clean and sustainable technologies.

The fragmentation of habitats has several ecosystem impacts. The high response of vegetation to environmental changes makes it a good indicator of biodiversity conservation condition. This work evaluated the conservation of a Cerradão fragment in the Cáceres municipality, Mato Grosso State, by analyzing the horizontal structure and diversity of species of the tree-shrub layer. The survey was based on two randomized conglomerates, totaling 8 plots and 0.8 ha. The criterion included was the diameter at 1.30 m above ground level ≥ 10 cm. A total of 411 individuals, 44 species and 21 botanical families were sampled. The families Fabaceae and Bignoniaceae presented the greatest species richness. The values of the Shannon-Weaver diversity and the Pielou Equability indices were considered high (3.18 and 0.84, respectively). The floristic similarity between the conglomerates was high, (Sørensen Index = 74.63%), indicating that the fragment is homogeneous. We observed inverted-J shape diametric distribution. The community presented an aggregate tendency, with an average Payandeh Aggregation index equal to 1.40. The richness and phytosociology indicated good conservation of the tree-shrub layer, as there were no floristic-structural changes in the fragment due to the anthropic activities surrounding the area.

This study aimed to verify the influence of the size of the diaspores and scarification treatments on the emergence rate and initial growth of Pterodon emarginatus Vog. (Fabaceae) after one year of storage. Diaspores of the species were collected, measured, weighed and separated into three size classes, with amplitude determined by the width of the fruit. Subsequently, they were submitted to thermal and mechanical scarification. A randomized experimental design was used, with 10 replicates of 10 units / each. We performed a survival analysis, besides analysis of variance and Tukey post-hoc test to verify significant differences in the percentage of diaspores emergence. We used generalized linear models to verify the variation in the initial growth of the seedlings. Our results indicated that treatments intercropped with the largest diaspore sizes positively influenced the percentage of emergence. Larger diaspores also resulted in larger diameter seedlings and stem length. Mechanical scarification led to a higher biomass allocation in the roots. We suggest that P. emarginatus diaspores should be submitted to pre-germination treatments to potentiate seedling emergence and development. We also recommend choosing the largest diaspores.

Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae) is a species tolerant to arid and semi-arid environments, such as the Brazilian Northeast. In this region climatic conditions make water a scarce resource. Water limitation affects plant growth and development where its impact will depend on its duration, intensity and the plant’s development stage. During the reproductive period water deficit can be critical since there is high water demand in this phase. The present study had as  objective to verify how M. oleifera reproductive attributes respond to the Brazilian semiarid (Brazilian tropical dry forest)  seasonality. We hypothesize attributes such as fruit size, seed number and physiological quality are different between dry and rainy seasons, with lower values for the dry season. The biometric characteristics of the fruits and M. oleifera seed germination produced in the two seasons were analyzed. It was observed differences in fruit weight, length and seed number, as well as for speed and germination percentage, with greater values during the rainy season. Seasonality affected important reproductive aspects for the successful recruitment and establishment of the specie, showing that, even tolerating drought, water deficit may limit M. oleifera reproductive success.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of salvinia proportions in the substrate composition to grow Jamaican nettletree seedlings. The chemical characteristics of the substrate were improved as the dosage increased, resulting in Al reduction and increased pH, CTC, base saturation, K, Ca, Mg, P and organic matter contents. Growth of Jamaican nettletree  seedlings was influenced by the fertility levels of the substrate. The highest plant height, stem diameter, dry mass, and macronutrient accumulation were verified in treatments with 75% and 100% of the organic compound.

The objectives of this research were: a) to test several traditional and generic hypsometric models; and b) to analyse their adjustments and performances according to age and number of thinnings. The data set came from measurements of diameter and height of 1099 trees distributed equitatively over 11 treatments with age ranging from 5 to 25 years, and number of thinnings varying from 0 (zero) to 6. Each treatment considered consists on the combination of different ages with different number of thinnings. The Pinus oocarpa stands belongs to Duraflora S/A, located in Agudos, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The selection of the best hypsometric model was based on adjusted coefficient of determination (R²adj), standard error of estimate and graphic analysis of residuals. Due to the small variation of model statistics for each treatment, a ranking of the models was performed. In a general way, the Curtis traditional model provided the best fit to the data. The models number 6, 7 and 8 had the best performance among the generic ones. The hypothesis that selective thinnings dissociat the hypsometric relationship was confirmed by the gradative reduction of the R² as the number of thinnings increased. As the stands became older, and the number of thinnings increased, the estimation of heights for these cases was obtained by using the equation hˆ = b0, b0, being equal to the average height.

The chemical characteristics of earthworm casts and a soil sample from a commercial plantation of Eucalyptus grandis aged 3 years old near the city of Mogi-Guaçu in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, were compared. The casts were collected at the surface of the mineral soil, while the soil was collected at depths of 0 - 5; 5 - 10; 10 - 20 and 20 - 30 cm. The Ca+2 and Mg+2 contents of casts, in comparison to the 0 to 5 cm soil depth, were 11 times higher,while the K+ contents were 3 times higher. In addition, the cation exchange capacity (CEC) and C contents were 4.41 and 2.83 more concentrated in the casts, respectively. It was observed a decrease in Aluminum saturation (m%) from 73%, in the depth of the 0-5 cm, to 45% in the casts. While the chemical characteristics of the native earthworm casts represent a distinct improvement over the soil, it remains to be seen what influence, if any, this has on the growth and nutrition of E. grandis.

The relationship between meteorological variables and the diameter increment of Zanthoxylum rhoifolia (mamica-de-cadela) and Zanthoxylum hyemale (coentrilho) was studied. It was taken data of two trees for each species in Santa Maria - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The observation period included years from 1974 to 1996 for mamica-de-cadela and from 1977 to 1996 for coentrilho. The stem analysis was used to restore the tree’s diameter increment. Discs were taken at 1,30m, 2,70m and 3,80m high of each tree.The 4 radii on perpendicular cross sections were measured on each disc. To identify the short-term variation in radial increment, the synchronization and standardization of disc’s sequence were performed for each tree. Temperature and precipitation data from Santa Maria Meteorological Station were used to calculate the evapotranspiration and the potential water balance. The correlation analysis between tree’s annual increment and potential water balance showed significant statistical results for both species.

This work had as objective to select mathematical models to predict the height of trees in function of DBH and age, in black wattle stands, Acacia mearnsii De Wild., in Southeastern region of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. For the adjustment of the height data 19 mathematical equations were tested, being used arithmetic and logarithmic linear equations and one no-linear equation (Chapman-Richards). The following statistical criteria were used in order to select the best equations: a) adjusted determination coefficient (Raj), b) standard error of estimate (Syx), c) variation coefficient in percentage (CV%),d) Furnival index in percentage (IF%) and e) F statistic. The analysis of residues graphic was accomplished for the five better ranked mathematical models. The equation 16, represented by log h = b0 + b1 * 1/d + b2 * 1/I + b3 * 1/D * I resulted as the most efficient model, estimated as function of DBH and age of trees, to adjust the heights in stands with ages of 2, 4, 6 and 8 years old.

The senescence and fall of the leaves and branches are mechanisms where thetrees can recycle the nutrients by biochemical cycling and by biogeochemical cycling. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the nutrients retranslocation in the non-deciduous leaves and branches and also in the deciduous leaves and branches. The leaves and branches for analysis were collected in the subplots of Acacia mearnsii stand at the age of three years old.The stand is located in the Rio Grande do Sul State – Brazil – in low fertility soil. The nutrients analysis results showed that the N was the element which had highest concentration for both, leaves and branches. The most retranslocated nutrients were P, K and Mg respectively. The elements N and Ca showed the lowest retranslocation in the leaves and branches.

This paper analyzes Eucalyptus badjensis Beuzev. & Welch half sib progenies planted in two areas of Southern Brazil. The species is considered potential for plantation in frost prone areas and for oil production (1,8 cineol). Height and DBH growth were fast on both areas, Vargem Bonita (SC) and Ponta Grossa(PR). In the colder area the species showed higher survival rate and no signal of frost damage. Heritabilities were different between locals varying from low to medium magnitude. It is recommended introduction of more genetic material with a higher number of progenies.

Wood qualities of six Prosopis species for energy purpose were compared. The species were Prosopis juliflora, P. pallida, P. velutina, P. glandulosa, P. alba and P. chilensis. The traits studied were basic density, wood destilates, heat content as well as contents of fixed carbon, volatiles and ash in the charcoal produced. Prosopis juliflora and P. pallida produced wood with high basic density and charcoal with low ash contents.

This article presents a survey of fungi reports on erva-mate and other related species. It contains information on fungi pathogenicity, symbiotic associations and on decomposition process. It is recommended the use of these information particularly when exotic pathogens present on other species of Ilex genera turn out to be a potential problem for erva-mate cultivation.

Exudation of resin was observed on trees of Pinus taeda, with 30 years of age,in Guaragi and Colombo, municipalities of the State of Paraná, Brazil. Besides resinosis, decline and death also were noted. Internally, sapwood was colonized by Sphaeropsis sapinea and became discolored. Possibly, this resinosis was incited by physiological disturbance, creating openings for stain fungi.

The aim of this study was to identify fungi species associated with aroeiravermelha (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) seeds. Seeds were collected from mother trees in Quatro Barras, Campina Grande do Sul and Bocaiúva do Sul municipalities, State of Parana, Brazil. Blotter test method was adopted for detecting fungi from aroeira seeds. It was possible to identify 10 different fungi genus, like Fusarium, Alternaria, Pestalotia, Penicillium, Aspergillus,Trichoderma, Chaetomium, Nigrospora, Geotrichum and Mucor and to distinguish Fusarium as the most frequent genus among studied samples.

This work lists some pathogenic and saprophytic fungi detected from angico (Piptadenia paniculata Bentham) seeds, by blotter test method. Seeds were collected from mother trees found in Quatro Barras, Campina Grande do Sul and Bocaiuva do Sul, municipalities, State of Parana, Brazil. Fusarium,Phomopsis, Colletotrichum, Cladosporium and Alternaria were detected as pathogenic fungi. Fusarium sp. and Phomopsis sp., represented 9% of the seed contamination. In low percentage contamination Aspergillus, Pestalotia,Monilia, Trichoderma, Penicillium and Geotrichum were detected as saprophytic fungi.

This work estimated the amount of phenotypic correlation between weight,diameter and length of peach palm seeds at the progenies level aiming to classify the seeds according to these characteristics. Experiment was installed in a randomized blocks design with eight replications, three progenies (numbers 31, 65 and 80); 25 seeds per plot, totaling 600 seeds. Weight, diameter and length of seeds were measured. A highly significant variance among progenies was showed through ANOVA. A higher correlation between weight and diameter (0.86) and, secondarily, between weight and length (0.66) and diameter x length (0.46) was found, which permits classify peach palm seeds by weight or diameter.

The evaluation of adhesive trap is a time-consuming task, vulnerable to count errors. Our proposition originated from the need to perform periodical evaluations of fungus-gnats (Diptera: Sciaridae). We selected, at random, 100 traps samples from a single site. Manual counting was performed and the traps were subsequently submitted to digitalization and automatic counting. We perform comparisons of both counting methods using R. The proposed automatic based approach is more expeditious in analyzing bigger samples or in including larger areas.

The forest sector is in constant development. It is responsible for a growing contribution to the Brazilian gross domestic product. New jobs are generated each year, with the establishment of factories and branches, and the purchase of new planting areas by large companies, including areas of permanent protection. The objective of this work was to generate a ranking model to determine the influence and importance of companies for the country’s forestry and industrial sector. The profiles of more than 40 companies of the branch were analyzed, all associated of the Brazilian Industry of Trees. We selected 20 of them based on the annual billing, planting area, protection area, generation of jobs and social investments. A score was given for each criterion (varying from 1 to 20). A business ranking matrix of the Brazilian forestry sector was obtained, with values to calculate the efficiency index. This model can be used by any other industrial sector, and it is only necessary to replace the criteria of planted area and preserved area for the production specificities of the sector in question.

The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition, basic density and tracheids morphological parameters of the wood of Cupressus lusitanica aiming to verify its suitability for cellulosic pulp production. Discs were collected from three 16-year-old trees to determine chemical, physical and morphological characteristics. The morphology of the tracheids was evaluated in the annual rings corresponding to the ages of 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16 years. The pulp quality parameters were calculated from the tracheid parameters. The chemical composition indicated low ash and extractive contents (0.27 and 2.13%, respectively), but high lignin content (32.52%). The basic density (0.375 g cm-3) was smaller than other species of softwood used for pulp production. The mean values of tracheids dimensions observed were 2.41 mm of length, 31.40 μm of width; 25.15 μm of lumen diameter and 3.12 μm of wall thickness, which tended to increase in values with increasing age. In general, C. lusitanica wood presents good technological characteristics for pulp and paper production, especially for the observed quality morphological index.