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High toxicity of the preservatives most frequently used in wood treatment and the resulting risks of handling pose a threat to small producers and to the environment. In an attempt to mitigate these problems, the present study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the preservative effect of tannic extract on biodeterioration of Acacia mearnsii wood. For this purpose, untreated and preserved specimens, some with tannin extract and some with a preservative mixture based on CCB (Chromated Copper Borate), were submitted to accelerated rotting trials with the fungus that causes white rot (Pycnoporus sanguineus) for 16 weeks. The evaluations were made with a basis on weight loss and chemical components analysis, and they showed that the natural resistance of Acacia wood is moderate when exposed to the white rot fungus. The tannin concentrations showed similar effects to those of the CBB mixture in all evaluations, i.e., they significantly increased the biological resistance of the material, which started to be classified as very resistant to the fungus. Overall, the results suggest that tannin can be considered as a potential natural preservative product.

Leucaena is an exotic fabaceae that has a much diversified utilization, highlighting the reforesting of degraded areas for the erosion control. For presenting a quite slow growth, the success of its cultivation is related to the sowing and seed emergency, that consequently require the utilization of methods of overcoming physic dormancy in seed germination to succeed. This paper aimed evaluates the effect of methods of overcoming dormancy on seed germination and on initial development of leucaena plantlet. The treatments used were: Witness (with no intervention); mechanic scarification with sandpaper number 100; immersion in H2SO4 (95 %) for 4 minutes and immersion in H2O at 80°C for 15 minutes. The mechanic scarification with sandpaper and water at 80ºC for 15 minutes presented the best results to percentage of germination. Although to index of speed emergency and plantlet height, the scarification was better.

This study aimed to test the hypothesis regarding the quality of Hovenia dulcis fence posts, which states that it varies according to the treatment period when subjected to the sap displacement method.. The experiment began with 15 round fence posts distributed vertically in tank containing copper sulfate, sodium dichromate and boric acid (CCB) solution at 2.5% concentration. In order to verify the influence of time on the efficiency of the method, the posts stayed in the preservative solution for periods of 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days, which were assessed. Penetration and retention in three positions were analyzed, which corresponded to the regions of base, middle and top parts. With regards to treated wood, samples of each piece were prepared for testing in field test. Then, weight loss and bending properties were assessed. According to the results of penetration and retention, wood treated on the period of 15 days is the only one that can be used directly with the soil. After assessment of the weight loss, the periods of 12 and 15 days of treatment increased the classification of wood from moderately to strong resistant. The bending test showed significant reduction in rigidity and strength of the material, even in the treated ones, which demonstrates that the forest environment in which samples were exposed promoted the process of wood decomposition.

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