Density, humidity, and nitrogen content of dominant wood species of floodplain forests (várzea) in Amazonia

Abstract

The bulk density in the wood of 15 dominant tree species of white-water floodplain forests (varzea) of Amazonia varies between 0.235 and 0.716 g/cm3 (average 0.495±0.002 g/cm3). The mean wood humidity is 115.1% dry weight (variation ≈50−260%). Nitrogen concentrations vary between 0.03 and 0.50% (average 0.20±0.002). Ecological and technical consequences of the results (implications for wood decay in this ecosystem, and potentialities for commercial use of varzea wood) are pointed out.