Maurício Ranzini’s research while affiliated with Instituto Geológico de São Paulo and other places

This study analyzed the fiber properties of 24 trees, 12 of which were Acacia mangium and 12 Calophyllum brasiliense, with the aim of evaluating the suitability of these species for paper production.We determine wood density, fiber features and fiber properties for the purpose of papermaking. In general, our results showed that both woods have medium quality for papermaking; however, C. brasiliense has a slight advantage by the greater number of properties classified as medium based on the reference values for fiber properties and the average values for each species. For flexibility coefficient, both species are classified as medium quality, falling within the range of 0.50 to 0.65. Wall fraction is also classified as medium quality, falling within the range of 0.50 to 0.35. Runkel ratio values group both species as good for paper (0.50 - 1.00). Slenderness ratio ranks A. mangium (0.62) in group III, 0.50 - 1.00, as good for paper, while C. brasiliense (0.43) is ranked in group II, 0.25 - 0.50, as very good for paper. According to Luce’s shape factor, C. brasiliense is good for papermaking with a value below 0.5. Overall, both species were found to be suitable for paper manufacturing, demonstrating strong potential for this industrial application.

- In Agrossilvipastoril systems trees are cultivated together with agricultural crops or animals, aiming at multiple uses therefore constituting a viable option for better soil use. Thus, reversing the processes of degradation of natural resources, to increase the availability of wood, food and environmental services and emerging as a sustainable alternative to the currently used wood production systems. Here we investigate the effect of the Silvi-agricultural and Silvi-pastoral systems on dendrometric data, mean annual increment (MAI), CO2 sequestration, wood density and anatomical features of Croton floribundus and Guazuma ulmifolia trees. The highest values of DBH (1.3 m from the ground), tree volume, volume per ha and MAI were observed in the silvi-agricultural system. Among the systems, C. floribundus presented higher values compared to G. ulmifolia in the silvi-agricultural system. While in the silvi-pastoral system, greater DBH and consequently greater volume of trees, volume per ha and MAI occurred in G. ulmifolia when compared to C. floribundus. CO2 sequestration values corroborated the MAI, with higher values in the silvi-agricultural system. Wood properties are affected in part by the type of system. C. floribundus has lower wood density values and higher vessel element length values, regardless of the management system, and the reverse occurs for G. ulmifolia. In this study, we demonstrated that integrating short-cycle crop cultivation with timber tree production is a feasible approach, which not only enhances carbon storage but also aligns with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria. These findings highlight that agroforestry systems not only enhance timber production but also diversify farmers' income streams and make a significant contribution to carbon sequestration, establishing themselves as a sustainable and economically viable land management solution.

Propriedades da madeira de Pinus patula de diferentes procedências plantadas em Itapeva, SP, Brasil. Desde as décadas de 60 e 70, Pinus spp. têm sido uma alternativa às espécies nativas do Brasil para certos usos na indústria madeireira. Assim, se justifica a importância de saber quais espécies de Pinus são as mais indicadas para o plantio em diferentes localidades do Brasil. No presente estudo, objetivamos ampliar o conhecimento da madeira de Pinus patula de diferentes procedências de sementes plantadas em Itapeva, São Paulo, Brasil, estudando a variabilidade em propriedades físicas, mecânicas e anatômicas e comparando-as com Pinus elliottii var. elliottii, espécie já utilizada tradicionalmente pela indústria madeireira brasileira. Espera-se que nossos achados forneçam subsídios para novos estudos voltados ao melhoramento genético de P. patula e, assim, contribuam para suprir a demanda por matérias-primas de boa qualidade. Para tanto, aos 31 anos foram coletadas 25 árvores, cinco de cada espécie/procedência. Não encontramos diferença entre os materiais estudados para espessura da parede das traqueídes, resistência à compressão paralela às fibras, resistência ao cisalhamento tangencial aos anéis de crescimento e módulo de ruptura. Pinus elliottii apresentou menor comprimento de traqueíde em comparação com as procedências de Pinus patula. Todas as propriedades avaliadas aumentaram em direção à casca, mas a partir da posição de 75%, os valores de todas as propriedades tenderam a se estabilizar, indicando maior presença de lenho adulto. Nossos resultados mostram que Pinus patula pode ser indicado para fins estruturais.

This study aimed to characterize and compare the physical and chemical properties of wood from 15-year-old Acacia mangium and 16-year-old Calophyllum brasiliense plantation trees. Specific data is provided on basic density, extractives, holocellulose, lignin, ash content and the highest heating value, as well as the linear correlations between them were performed. We observed similar mean values of basic density, despite statistical differences were found in lignin and holocellulose contents. The results for the higher heating value (19.5 kJ kg−1) were noteworthy, as they are positively associated with the extractive content (8.3%) and lignin content (26.0%) of A. mangium and C. brasiliense, respectively. Furthermore, the relationships found between the basic density of C. brasiliense wood, and its chemical properties were different from those expected, suggesting that other analyses should be carried out on the wood in order to fully understand it. Both species demonstrate calorific values suitable for biomass production, suggesting the potential use of their residues for pellet and briquette manufacturing. The findings have provided valuable information on the quality and behavior of wood, especially to contribute to the sustainable use of forest resources.

Hevea brasiliensis is a forest species with potential for commercial planting for both latex and timber production at the end of the latex production cycle. This study aimed to determine the genetic variability of growth traits and wood properties in a 33-year-old clonal plantation of H. brasiliensis in the region of Selvíria, state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Significant differences were detected among the clones for DBH and total tree height. For the physical properties of the wood, only volumetric shrinkage showed a significant difference between clones; however, for all anatomical dimensions and mechanical properties, significant differences were found. Clone IAN717 stood out for the highest growth, while RRIM600 had the lowest growth. In terms of wood properties, clone RRIM600 exhibited highest mechanical resistance, while GT1 showed the lowest resistance. Most wood properties varied in the pith-to-bark direction, with the lowest values found in the pith region and the highest in the bark region, except for vessel frequency, where the opposite trend occurred. The highest heritability coefficients were observed for DBH, volumetric shrinkage in the bark region, vessel element diameter in the intermediate region, and vessel frequency in the bark region. The genetic correlation coefficient was high, positive, and significant between traits such as shear strength x modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity x modulus of rupture, and volumetric shrinkage x modulus of rupture, indicating that selection for one trait may result in indirect gains in another.

The use of tropical wood species in reforestation can be an alternative resource to meet the demand from the industrial wood sector. However, this strategy remains very limited, even while tropical forests continue to be deliberately exploited for the selective extraction of native species of highly commercial value. To test the potential of tropical species in reforestation, it is first necessary to evaluate the production and quality of the wood produced. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the quality Astronium urundeuva, Astronium fraxinifolium and Terminalia argentea woods, all aged 22 years, from a heterogeneous plantation located in the municipality of Selvíria-MS. From each species, 15 trees were selected. A 10 cm thick disc was removed from the base of each tree. Samples were taken from the discs near the bark region to evaluate the anatomical characteristics and the physical and mechanical properties of the wood. According to the results, it was found that only compressive strength did not differ significantly among the species. Astronium urundeuva presented the highest values for basic density and apparent density, and Terminalia argentea presented the highest values for fiber length, fiber wall thickness and vessel element diameter. The best Pearson correlations were found for basic density and apparent density, both for Astronium fraxinifolium and Astronium urundeuva. The best regression equations obtained were correlations between basic density and apparent density for Astronium fraxinifolium and Astronium urundeuva. The linear model best fits the data for these correlations. The greater growth of Terminalia argentea trees caused lower wood density owing to the lower rate of competition among trees. Based on the results and according to wood strength standards, the three species can be classified in the D40 strength class. According to the obtained results, these can support information to be compared with some species used commercially for structural purposes and other uses. Keywords: Forest management; Physicomechanical properties; Tropical Brazilian wood

The aim of this study was to compare the apparent wood density obtained by two different methods in populations of Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis and Pinus tecunumanii, both 50 years old, located in Itirapina, SP. For this purpose, five trees of each species were selected. From each tree, two discs of 7 cm thickness were removed in the diameter at breast height (DBH) region. To determine the apparent density by the gravimetric method, samples were collected at five different positions, from pith to bark, on one of the discs. The other disc was used to obtain the radial profile of apparent wood density, using the X-ray Densitometry method. The results revealed that the apparent density did not differ significantly between the species. Variations in apparent density were observed from pith to bark in the trunks of both species, with a tendency of increasing density towards the bark. Furthermore, positive correlations between radial position and apparent density were observed in both species. The methodologies used to obtain the apparent density showed a high correlation between them, allowing for estimates with good precision. It is worth noting that the apparent density obtained by the gravimetric method showed significantly higher values than the X-ray densitometry method.

As in other countries, In Brazil, new genetic materials of Eucalyptus spp. and their hybrids are multiplied through cloning. These materials, currently in experimental trials, must undergo several stages to select the best ones for pulp and paper production. Therefore, new studies on wood quality are essential. Therefore, this study aimed to group 11 clones of Eucalyptus spp. wood, from a clonal plantation in the municipality of Palmital, São Paulo State, for the production of paper and cellulose. For this purpose, four trees of each clone of 4-year-old Eucalyptus spp. were collected. From each tree, a log of 1 m in length was taken from the base of the tree, for the study of the characterization of the basic density and cellular dimensions of the wood. The results showed that there were significant differences between clones for basic density, fiber length, vessel element length and fiber wall thickness. The Runkel ratio, wall fraction and stiffness coefficient did not show significant differences between the different genotypes. From the results obtained, we can conclude that clones can be differentiated only by basic density, fiber length, vessel element length and fiber wall thickness. The Runkel index, flexibility coefficient and wall fraction of Eucalyptus spp. were more efficient to group the clones into two groups.

As relações entre recomposição florestal e os processos hidrológicos são pouco estudadas. Áreas plantadas com espécies arbóreas são importantes para se avaliar a repartição da chuva ao nível das copas. Com esse propósito foi selecionada uma área reflorestada com cerca de 70 anos de idade na Estação Experimental de Tupi, onde demarcou-se uma parcela de 400 m2. Foram identificadas 11 espécies arbóreas dentre 40 árvores existentes, sendo 39 nativas e apenas uma exótica. Todos os eventos de precipitação foram registrados com pluviômetros feitos com garrafas plásticas PET de 2 L; quatro em área aberta, 25 no interior da floresta para a transprecipitação e para a determinação do escoamento pelo tronco das árvores foram instalados três coletores de espuma de poliuretano. A interceptação foi estimada pela equação do balanço hídrico do dossel. No período de 1 ano foram realizadas 60 coletas de chuva, totalizando 1.522,0 mm de precipitação. Em média, 15,3% da precipitação total foi interceptada pela floresta, 80,4% atravessaram o dossel pela transprecipitação e 4,3% como escoamento pelo tronco, totalizando 84,7% de precipitação efetiva. Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa para as perdas por interceptação entre os períodos chuvoso e seco, com os maiores valores na época das chuvas. Análises de regressão linear indicaram correlação positiva alta entre a precipitação total, tanto para a transprecipitação (R2 > 0,9) quanto para o escoamento pelo tronco (R2 > 0,8), e média para a precipitação total e a interceptação (R2 próximo a 0,6). Os resultados mostram que após cerca de 70 anos de sua implantação, o processo de repartição da chuva possui valores compatíveis aos encontrados em floresta estacional semidecidual.

In Agrossilvipastoril systems trees are cultivated together with agricultural crops or animals, aiming at multiple uses therefore constituting a viable option for better soil use. Thus, reversing the processes of degradation of natural resources, to increase the availability of wood, food and environmental services and emerging as a sustainable alternative to the currently used wood production systems. Here we investigate the effect of the Silvi-agricultural and Silvi-pastoral systems on dendrometric data, mean annual increment (MAI), CO 2 sequestration, wood density and anatomical features of Croton floribundus and Guazuma ulmifolia trees. The highest values of DBH (1.3 m from the ground), tree volume, volume per ha and MAI were observed in the silvi-agricultural system. Among the systems, Croton floribundus presented higher values compared to Guazuma ulmifolia in the silvi-agricultural system. While in the silvi-pastoral system, greater DBH and consequently greater volume of trees, volume per ha and MAI occurred in G. ulmifolia when compared to C. floribundus . CO 2 sequestration values corroborated the MAI, with higher values in the silvi-agricultural system. Wood properties are affected in part by the type of system. We report shorter fibers with thicker walls in the silvi-agricultural system for Croton floribundus . Additionally, we show that it is possible to associate the planting of short-cycle crops with the production of trees to obtain wood, increase the carbon stock and still be aligned with the criteria of Environmental, Social, and Governance. Results that encourage the practice of agroforestry systems with multiple sources of income.