NATURAL DURABILITY OF WOODS FROM Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. AND Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth.
biodeterioration, field tests, extractives, semiarid
Knowledge of the characteristics and durability of the wood of each species is extremely important so that it can be better disposed of. To this end, this work aimed to determine the natural durability of timber species from the Caatinga region, Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. (jurema-preta) and Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth. (thrush), in a wood rot field test. The rotting field was implemented in a Forest Experimentation Area, located in the municipality of Macaíba-RN. In this, samples were introduced in two formats: stakes with dimensions of 5.0 x 2.5 x 50.0 centimeters (radial x tangential x longitudinal), and round pieces 1 meter long and with an average diameter between 10 and 15 centimeters.
Both pieces were buried in the ground up to half their length, where a randomized block design was used. Periodic assessments (annual) were carried out to determine the deterioration index and the deterioration susceptibility index. In addition to visual analyses, the condition of the bark of the samples, the hardness of the wood in the soil and shoots and the presence of longitudinal cracks in the wood were evaluated in the field. The partial results of the study make it possible to understand that both wood species from the Caatinga have good quality and durability in accordance with their natural properties, making it necessary to evaluate the species for a longer period in the rotting field.