Physical–mechanical properties of wood from a eucalyptus clone planted in an integrated crop-livestock-forest system

Abstract

Integrated crop-livestock-forest (iCLF) systems are consolidated as alternatives for multiple use of agricultural lands to produce grains, meat, milk, timber and non-timber products. This article reports the analysis of the wood quality of a eucalyptus clone grown in conventional homogenous plantation and iCLF system and evaluated at 7-year age. For this purpose, 12 and 36 trees, respectively, from a conventional plantation and the iCLF system, were collected and sampled to determine their chemical composition (ashes, extractives, total carbohydrates and lignin contents) and physical–mechanical properties. Higher contents of ashes, extractives and holocellulose were found in wood from the iCLF system. Wood from that system had higher density and both static bending and compressive strength. Linear and volumetric shrinkage as well as the anisotropic factor were not influenced by the management system. Despite being juvenile, the wood from iCLF can be employed for industrial uses, notably sawn lumber and firewood.