DIAMETRIC GROWTH AND PROPERTIES OF Copaifera langsdorffii DESF. BY SECOND CUTTING CYCLE

Resumo

The aim of this study was to analyze forest management effects in the diametric growth and wood anatomical, chemical and physical properties of Copaifera langsdorffii trees, in an Ombrophilous Open Forest (state of Mato Grosso, Brazil). The forest management effects were determined through a comparative study between the wood properties of 10 years before and 10 years after the first logging, in 1987. Multivariate associations among the anatomical characteristics, macro and micronutrient, wood density, and current annual increment (ICA) were evaluated to every growth period through the two steps cluster analysis. The results indicated that the following characteristics were relevant to distinct the periods studied: ICA, vessel frequency, and wood density. C. langsdorffii respond to stimuli caused by forest management, adapting to the increase of resources availability, due to the opening gaps, and showing growth increase with reduction of wood density, which may indicate variations on the wood properties.