Wood quality of residual branches of Hymenaea courbaril L. from logging in the Amazon rainforest

Abstract

Branches remain in the forest environment as logging activity residue. Considering the large size of many Amazonian trees, their branches have considerable dimensions and can contribute to a sustainable wood alternative for various applications. Due to the formation of reaction wood in the branches, relevant macro and ultrastructural changes can occur in its characteristics in relation to the trunk wood. However, the woods of the branches are not technologically well known. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the wood quality of branches of Hymenaea courbaril L., comparing it with wood of trunks. The extractives and lignin contents, basic density, shrinkage, fiber biometry, microfibril angle and mechanical resistance to compression parallel to the fibers were analyzed. The branch wood had smaller fiber dimensions and a higher microfibril angle than the trunk wood. The basic density was similar between these materials. The linear and volumetric shrinkages were smaller in the branch wood than in the trunk, while the axial shrinkage was higher in the branch. The parallel compressive strength was also lower in the branch wood than in the trunk. The branch wood has properties suitable for products with higher added value such as furniture, decorative objects, floors and utensils in general.