Abstract
The use of fertilization in forest stands results in yield gains, yet little attention has been directed to its potential effects on the quality of wood produced. Information is scarce about the effect of fertilization on anatomical structures of older Eucalyptus wood. This work aims to study the effect of fertilization on tissue cell size of wood from a Eucalyptus grandis stand at age 21 years, the management system of which is based on selective thinning and fertilizer application at the start of the thinning season. Factors to consider include: presence or absence of fertilizers, two log positions and five radial (pith to bark) positions. Results led to the conclusion that fertilization significantly influenced only vessel frequency. Vessel element length was influenced by tree height. Fiber length, fiber diameter, fiber wall thickness, vessel element length, vessel diameter and vessel frequency were influenced by the radial position of the sample in relation to the log. A positive correlation was observed between fiber length, fiber diameter, fiber wall thickness, vessel element length, vessel diameter, ray width and radial position, while a negative correlation was observed between ray frequency and radial position.
Highlights
In Brazil, fertilization of forest stands provides yield gains, little attention has been given to its potential effects on produced wood quality
Vessel frequency was reduced in trees fertilized at age five in comparison to trees without fertilizer (Table 2 and Figure 2)
Bamber et al (1982) observed a reduced vessel frequency in wood of Eucalyptus grandis trees at age 2.5 years that had been induced to high growth rates by fertilizer application
Summary
In Brazil, fertilization of forest stands provides yield gains, little attention has been given to its potential effects on produced wood quality. While citing various authors, Vital (1990) points to conflicting results about the effect of fertilization on wood density, with values decreasing, increasing or remaining unchanged for this physical property, yet he stresses that where density decreases, the bulk wood output per hectare will increase due to greater volumetric growth. This assertion was corroborated by Andrade et al (1994) and Barreiros et al (2007)
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