Abstract
The use of fast-growing trees is a good economic strategy for charcoal production. Wood with adequate chemical and physical properties generally is positively correlated with charcoal quality. The objective of this research was to evaluate wood quality from fast-growing hybrids for charcoal production. Three Corymbia citriodora x Corymbia torelliana and four Corymba torelliana x Corymba citriodora hybrid clones were evaluated. Parameters used to evaluate wood quality were wood basic density, elemental and structural chemical composition, energy efficiency and thermogravimetric analysis and the parameters evaluated for charcoal quality were apparent relative density, gravimetric yield, high heating value, proximate analysis and energy efficiency. All clones had wood basic density superior than 0.5 g cm-3 and ash inferior than 1%, which are desirable for a good quality of charcoal. Lignin content did not differ among clones with an average less than the 28% recommended for energetic use. Besides clones differed in wood parameters, as dry matter, high heating value, energy density, total extractives, holocellulose content, it did not reflect in charcoal quality differences. Wood from all clones had equal and satisfying high heating value of charcoal and energy efficiency quality for charcoal production and differed in apparent relative density and ash content.
Highlights
Brazil is one of the largest producers and consumers of charcoal in the world (FAO 2019) and has the potential to increase production
Clone Ct × Cc-5 had the highest Wood basic density (WBD) which could be more beneficial for charcoal production (Table 2)
WBD is one of the most important selection parameters for quality charcoal production because it is associated with better mechanical resistance (Chrzazvez et al 2014, Moutinho et al 2016)
Summary
Brazil is one of the largest producers and consumers of charcoal in the world (FAO 2019) and has the potential to increase production. One strategy to increase production is to cultivate fast-growing trees associated with reduction of the cutting cycle which quickly reach an economically optimum size. Species cultivated for charcoal production have had their growth-cycle reduced from 7 years to 5 or 4 years due to successful breeding programs (Oliveira et al 2010). Fast-growing trees need to be assessed for wood quality and charcoal production; hybrids breeding strategies have improved these parameters and produced superior clones. Corymbia species stand out for charcoal production because of their desirable high wood volume and density (Lee 2007). Interspecific hybrids of Corymbia have high biomass production and grow faster than open-pollinated seed batches (Lee et al 2009). Creating hybrids from Corymbia citriodora and Corymbia torelliana genotypes increases the chance that the resulting plants will be more vigorous than either parent (Reis et al 2014)
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