Effects of planting density on characteristics of sabiá wood

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the biomass yield, volume, and basic density of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. wood in response to planting densities in 13-year-old trees. The research was conducted in Mossoró-RN using a randomized block design with three replications. Plants obtained from seeds collected from the natural vegetation of the Caatinga in Mossoró-RN were subjected to densities of 800 (5.0 m x 2.5 m), 1600 (2.5 m x 2.5 m), 2000 (2.0 m x 2.5 m), and 4000 (1.0 m x 2.5 m) plants ha-1. The following characteristics were assessed: plant height, diameter at breast height, cross-sectional area, basal area, individual volume, stere volume, aboveground biomass, and basic wood density. The dendrometric variables showed a high correlation with planting density. For DBH and cross-sectional area, higher values were observed in the lowest planting densities. The highest values of basal area, volume (m3), stere volume, and dry biomass per hectare were found at the highest planting density. Biomass allocation showed the sequence stem>branches>leaves, regardless of the planting density evaluated. The higher densities resulted in a higher basic density of the wood. The higher planting densities proved advantageous 13 years after planting due to the higher production of dry biomass, volume (m3), and stere volume per hectare.