Managing the Technological Potential of Eschweilera truncata A. C. Sm in the Amazon

Abstract

Eschweilera truncata trees, known commercially by the name of Matamatá, are abundant, widely distributed throughout the forest, and characterized by important features for forest management, but are not harvested due to the scarcity of studies of the technological attributes that would reveal their potential, such as their machining and physical properties. Otherwise such studies might contribute to the inclusion of new species in the market, strengthening the sustainability of the forest ecosystems. Given this gap, the present research aimed to evaluate the performance of Matamatá wood in terms of its physical properties and behaviour under the machining process that would be used in this sector of the timber industry. The research involved a study of the tree, from which a base disk was removed in order to analyse its apparent density, density, shrinkage and anisotropy coefficient. The tradable shaft was split into logs and planks to assess the effects of machining processes. In the data analysis, we used descriptive statistics and the Tukey test. The results obtained classify Matamatá wood as high density and identify its anisotropy coefficient of 1.90, suggesting a medium to low stability. E. truncata wood performed excellently in the machining evaluation, and its results in the planer, sandpaper, drill perforation, frame in the top and lathe tests were also outstanding; in addition it presented wood material of the same quality throughout, whether heartwood or sapwood. This is an important indicator of wood yield, signifying that greater use can be made of the wood. The performance of the wood was validated via the manufacture of products such as furniture, decoration and finger-boards for musical instruments. In general, it can be concluded that the wood studied may be used in the lumber industry, because it presents similar features to those in the species already marketed and because it is plentiful all over the Amazon region.

Characterization of technological properties of matá-matá wood (Eschweilera coriacea [DC.] S.A. Mori, E. odora Poepp. [Miers] and E. truncata A.C. Sm.) by Near Infrared Spectroscopy

“…Araújo et al (2019), studying managed wood species in the Amazon and applying the traditional methodology, identified the predominance of wood with high density (murici, Byrsonima crispa, 0.71 g cm -3 ; piãozinho, Micrandropsis sclerorylon, 1.18 g cm -3 ). Within this range, Fróes et al (2019) found mean values of 0.77 g cm -3 for E. truncata wood by applying the same (destructive) methodology, while Nascimento et al (2017) determined the density of E. odora by NIR, obtaining mean values of 0.80 g cm -3 . In the current study the matá-matá woods were classified as high density (BD > 0.70 g cm -3 ).…”

“…As for the cellulose/lignin connection, the correlation is negative (Fengel & Wegener 2003). Regarding the G3 wood attributes, the extractives/BD association has been explained in several studies (Nascimento et al 2017, Soares et al 2018, Fróes et al 2019, since high-density tropical forest species grow slowly in diameter, thus having time for greater deposition of compounds in the xylem (Silva & Silva 1991, Chave et al 2009). Conversely, pioneer species, which are generally fast growing, display low density and concentration of extractives (Vale et al 2010, Kilic & Niemz 2012.…”

“…Selective exploration in the Amazon of the so-called "commercial woods" is restricted to a dozen species with a large di-ameter, which dramatically reduces the size of their populations and may generate scarcity of wood provision from these species in the next future. On the other hand, widely abundant species with smaller standard diameter are neglected and/or relegated to the background, as their potential for use and indication for markets is not yet known (Fróes et al 2019). Many of these species are suitable for forest management and are not commercialized due to lack of knowledge of their properties; these include Eschweilera sp.…”

“…are abundant and widely distributed in several regions of the Amazon rainforest, but there are major gaps in our knowledge of their technological characteristics. Understanding the relationship between these characteristics is important to recognize which combination of wood properties is the most suitable for specific uses (Fróes et al 2019).…”

Sensory characteristics of wood from naturally fallen Amazonian trees for manufacture of products in Extractive Reserves

“…Given the growing pressure from national and international demand for wood for industrial use, solutions are being created to combat and reduce the rate of deforestation (FRÓES et al, 2019). One of these solutions is to use wood from naturally fallen trees (forest waste with low environmental impact).…”