Abstract
Due to changes in the Amazon forest dynamics after the first cutting cycle, non exploited species become dominant in the forest. The lack of technological knowledge makes it hard to commercialize these woods, making the understanding of their physical-mechanical properties a fundamental step to properly define their applications. This study aimed to characterize physically and mechanically the wood of Pseudopiptadenia psilostachya and Eschweilera ovata from the second cutting cycle of the Tapajós National Forest, intending to commercially promote and to identify usages for them, as well as to evaluate the viability of replacement of highly commercialized species. The tests were performed accordingly to the Brazilian standard NBR 7190. P. psilostachya, presented bulk density of 0.683 g.cm-3, medium levels of shrinkage and anisotropy, as well as medium hardness (7366 N) and high strength on compression parallel to grain (71.63 MPa) and on static bending (103.9 MPa). It was generally superior to Euxylophora paraensis, but inferior when compared to Bagasssa guianensis and Apuleia leiocarpa, with possibilities to replace these three species. E. ovata, on the other hand, presented bulk density of 0.798 g.cm-3, high shrinkage and anisotropy values, but high values for hardness (12089 N) and strength on compression parallel to grain (68.67 MPa) and on static bending (127.1 MPa). This species exhibited, in general, similarities with Mezilaurus itauba, although it is a little inferior in relation to Hymenaea sp. and Astronium lecointei. Both species, P. psilostachya and E. ovata fit in the highest strength class described on the Brazilian Standard NBR7190, C60. By means of the results found, it was concluded that although the species studied were unknown, they presented timber with enough quality to replace some Amazon timber species widely commercialized on both national and international market.
Highlights
The forest management with reduced impacts has shown itself to be a sustainable alternative for obtaining non-wood and wood products originated from native forests, with the objective of minimizing the impact on the forest by allowing the remaining trees, of a 30-year cutting cycle, as foreseen in the Brazilian legislation (Castro 2012)
The first studies on forest management with reduced impacts were performed in the end of the 1970’s, in an area belonging to the Brazilian company of agricultural research - EMBRAPA, inside the Tapajós National Forest, located at Km 67 of the BR 163 highway
Considering the average value of bulk density based on the Melo et al (1992) classification criteria, P. psilostachya is considered a species of medium density
Summary
The forest management with reduced impacts has shown itself to be a sustainable alternative for obtaining non-wood and wood products originated from native forests, with the objective of minimizing the impact on the forest by allowing the remaining trees, of a 30-year cutting cycle, as foreseen in the Brazilian legislation (Castro 2012). There are no studies in the literature about the quality of the wood of the species that are retained for the second cutting cycle. The first studies on forest management with reduced impacts were performed in the end of the 1970’s, in an area belonging to the Brazilian company of agricultural research - EMBRAPA, inside the Tapajós National Forest, located at Km 67 of the BR 163 highway. Pereira Junior et al (2006) believe that the impact and dynamic studies conducted after the first cutting cycle showed that the regeneration and the recovery of the forest supports the proceeding of a second cutting cycle, which has occurred in the end of 2014, 35 years after the first cutting. According to Oliveira et al (2011), because of the traditional exploration and the lack of scientific studies about the characteristics of woods of the other species, the timber market became restrict to few well known species with a medium to long production cycle, which often makes the recovery of this material in the market unfeasible, leading to a shortage of the product and in some cases risk of extinction of the species
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