STUDY OF VARIATIONS IN WOOD DENSITY OF Liquidambar styraciflua AND Pinus tecunumannii AS PARAMETERS OF QUALITY FOR FURNITURE PRODUCTION

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative physical parameters of wood of the species Liquidambar styraciflua and Pinus tecunumannii, cultivated in Agudos-SP, Brazil. The choice of the species was based on the productivity and quality of the wood of the species L. styraciflua in other regions, its good adaptation in the state of São Paulo in Brazil, and also the superiority of the species P. tecunumannii among the Pinus sp. cultivated in Brazil for the production of hardwood. The mean density of each tree species, as well as the variation in radial and axial directions, were measured. The mean density and point density of the wood were determined using the gamma-ray attenuation technique of 241Am. Productivity was evaluated by means of the annual average increment in dry mass of each species. The results show that the L. styraciflua species is a viable alternative for reforestation in Brazil, mainly because of the superior quality of its wood and substantial gains in mean density and smaller variations in density, making it a good alternative to substitute some valuable hardwoods for the production of furniture.