The objective of this work was the selection of arboreal species for multiple use in the semi-arid area of the state of Sergipe, Brazil. Fifteen species from the semi-arid area of Central America were introduced in the region: Acacia farnesiana, Albizia caribaea, Albizia guachepele, Ateleia herbert-smithii, Caesalpinia coriaria, Caesalpinia eryostachys, Caesalpinia velutina, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena diversifolia, Leucaena leucocephala, Leucaena shannoni, Parkinsonia aculeata, Pithecellobium dulce and Senna otomaria. The species were planted in the Experimental Field of Glória, Embrapa Semi-Árido, in Nossa Senhora da Glória, Sergipe State, in holes of 30cmx30cm, without fertilization, 3.0mx2.0m apart in a randomized block design with three replications and 36 plants per plot. They were evaluated for survival, height, diameter at the height of 1.30m from the soil surface, 55 months after planting. G. sepium and A. guachepelle showed higher growth than the other species, with mean heights (± standard deviation), of 4.0±0.4 and 4.3±0.2m respectively, and mean diameters (± standard deviation) of 4.4±0.5 and 6.3±0.1cm, and survival rates of 100 and 98%. Although L. leucocephala showed excellent growth in height (5.0±0.3m) and in diameter (6.0±1.5cm), its survival rate was 44%. L. diversifolia and A. farnesiana have shown 100% mortality in the studied plots. Gliricidia sepium and Albizia guachepele were outstanding, with great potentiality for the semi-arid areas in the State of Sergipe. Acacia farnesiana, Leucaena diversifolia and Senna otomaria did not show a good performance in the semi-arid conditions of the region.
Gliricidia sepium; Albizia guachepele; Leucaena leucocephala; multipurpose trees; semi-arid; silviculture