Efeito da poda sobre a qualidade da madeira de Eucalyptus dunnii, Eucalyptus grandis e Eucalyptus saligna

Abstract

This study aims to quantitatively verify the quality of the pruning regime through the analysis of the healing process by evaluating the wood around pruned branches. The species were pruned E. dunnii, E. grandis and E. saligna at ages 65, 65 and 52 months, respectively, from a commercial plantation in Rosario do Sul region - RS. In the cut we measured and evaluated in the radial plane of pruned trees as to the extent of node occlusion, the length of the wood with knot, the diameter of the knotty core and estimated the extent of clear wood. The species E. dunnii presented the best behavior for the production of clear wood, in relation to the target diameter of the company. It may be concluded that efficient pruning contributes in reducing the knotty core significantly and leads to a higher production of clean timber, especially when the aim is to produce aggregated value lumber. The findings of this study may encourage the application of adequate the pruning regimes in eucalypts. However, pruning should not be regarded as an isolated operation but as a substantial part of the strategic planning of silicultural management.