Abstract
The objective of this study was to compare three methods of measuring the volume of individual trees used extensively as a basis for adjusting volumetric functions in areas under forest management in the Brazilian Amazon, and verify the influence of species and diameter classes in obtaining the volume of individual trees. A total of 53 sample trees belonging to five species were analyzed and separated into three diametric classes. The real volume (VR) was obtained using Smalian’s method on fixed sections of 2 meters intervals along the stem; the geometric volume (VG) was also obtained by Smalian’s method, but with the lengths of the various sections along the stem. Volume loss (VP) was subtracted from the VR to obtain the usable volume (VA). An ANOVA in a factorial design (5 x 3 x 3) was performed to verify the effect of 5 species, 3 diameter classes, and 3 volume measurement methods (VR, VG, and VA) on the different volumes obtained. The 3 factors did affect the outcome of the analysis, but there were no interactions found between these variables. The volumes obtained by cubic scaling with different lengths (VG) presented a lower mean volume than VR. Although there was no difference between the means of VA and VR, wood loss was 6.5% of the total volume. There is a relationship between section length and volume loss, according to the presence of hollows, twists and cracks in the logs in the largest diameter classes.
Highlights
The volume of wood is an important dendrometric measurement for the feasibility analysis of sustainable forest management in the Amazon, as it supplies quantitative information of the forest that informs the decisionmaking process using the forest inventory data in a certain area (BARRETO et al, 2014)
This study aimed at: (i) comparing the 3 practices used to measure volumes (VR, VA, and VG); (ii) verifying the influence of species and diameter classes on the volume of wood obtained by the 3 methods; and (iii) quantifying the volumetric losses after tree felling
The study area belongs to the Virola-Jatobá Sustainable Development Project (SDP) III and IV (03o 10’ 06.4’’ S and 51o 17’ 55.5’’ W), Gleba Belo Monte, with an area of 41,640 ha, side road north of km 120 of the Trans-Amazon Highway, Municipality of Anapu, State of Pará (Figure 1)
Summary
The volume of wood is an important dendrometric measurement for the feasibility analysis of sustainable forest management in the Amazon, as it supplies quantitative information of the forest that informs the decisionmaking process using the forest inventory data in a certain area (BARRETO et al, 2014) This volume depends on a number of indirect factors, such as the measurement method and the adjustment of the equations that estimate the volume, in addition to direct factors, such as the species, size and shape of the stem, and the health of the assessed trees. Resolution No 406 of 02/02/2009 (BRASIL, 2009) establishes the parameters for regulating production by PMFS and the mandatory determination of the volumetric stock after the second year of management through dendrometric measurements These legal instruments do not impose a specific method for adjusting volumetric equations
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