Relationship between volume and mass of wood and bark in Mimosa tenuiflora

Abstract

The Mimosa tenuiflora is a species typical of the Brazilian semi-arid region, used as forage, energy source, fences and with potential for production of vegetable tannins. However, there are few studies on the relationships of dendrometric parameters of species. This study aimed to evaluate the volume and mass of wood (firewood) and the volume and mass of bark in Mimosa and verify their variation during the dry and rainy seasons. Thus, were collected, on a quarterly basis, in Santa Terezinha, Paraíba, Brazil, 10 plants of Mimosa tenuiflora, a total of 40 plants, and conducted strict cubic content of wood with and without bark, measurements, determination of moisture content of wood and bark and established relations between the dendrometric parameters. It was noted that the volume and mass of wood are not related to the volume and mass of bark. Moisture content in wood and bark showed that in the months of December 2008 (beginning of the rainy season) and April 2009 (the end of rainy season) was high. In the months of December 2008 and April 2009 higher percentage of green leaves in the trees was observed, due to the occurrence of rain during the collection of the material.