Physical properties of Calycophyllum spruceanum Benth. wood according on the diameter and position (base and top) in stem

Abstract

The knowledge of the technological properties of the wood is important for the management and rational use of forest species. The study of the physical properties of Calycophyllum spruceanum wood aims to provide subsidies for timber production in estuarine floodplain forests. Samples were collected at base and top of the stem from 15 trees with different diameters to determine the physical properties (basic density, anisotropic factor and axial, radial, tangential and volumetric shrinkage), according to NBR 7190/97. C. spruceanum wood showed overall average of 0.65 g.cm-3 for density, 5.1% for radial shrinkage, 7.3% for tangential shrinkage, 14.1% for volumetric shrinkage and 1.6 for anisotropic factor. By analysis of covariance there was a significant effect of position on the stem only for anisotropic factor and tangential shrinkage, where the highest values for these properties were obtained at the base of the stem of the trees. The inexistence of significant effect of diameter at breast height (DBH) trees on the physical properties studied associated with values of basic density and adequate, from the aspect of dimensional stability for the anisotropic factor show that the timber of the species presents possibilities to be used as solid wood, even from trees under the minimum logging diameters (50 cm), established by Brazilian law.