ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluating of the wood natural durability of five arboreal essences: Eucalyptus citriodora Hook, Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud, Lophantera lactescens Ducke, Piptadenia gonoacantha (Mart.) Macbr. and Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr. The field experiment was accomplished in the campus of the Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro from February, 2001 to November, 2002. Six samples of each essence partially buried in vertical position were disposed at random in five blocks. In laboratory, following a system of notes related to the wood healthy state, the samples were classed accorging to a behavioral index for each species in relation to the wood aspect. The samples bark condition, the hardness of the wood and the presence of longitudinal cracks were also observed in the body of the sample Laphantera lactescens and Piptadenia gonoacantha were the most and less durable woods according to the evaluated parameters, respectively. In 47% of the samples that were attacked three species of termites were identified: Coptotermes havilandi, Nasutitermes jaraguae and Nasutitermes minor.
Key words:
durability; field experiment; Coptotermes; Nasutitermes