Work

Field durability of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia and Mimosa tenuiflora woods

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Using native woods in their original state as posts, fences and contractions is an environmentally and economically friendly initiative, as it reduces the need for wood preservation chemicals. However, each species must be assessed for its natural durability to determine whether it is suitable for such ends. The present work aimed to evaluate the natural durability of round wood pieces of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia and Mimosa tenuiflora after three years of service in the field and to compare their deterioration levels with those found for nontreated and treated Eucalyptus wood with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA). Round wood pieces, 1 m long, with an average diameter of 10 to 15 cm, were partially buried in the soil to a depth of half their length in a field experiment. Additionally, test specimens of M. caesalpiniifolia and M. tenuiflora (30 replicates for each species) were buried using the same experimental design. All wood samples were left in the field for three years and were periodically assessed to determine the extent of deterioration. Both experiments were set according to an entirely randomized block design (RBD). After exposure the deterioration index and decay susceptibility were determined. Experimental data were subjected to analysis of variance, and when significant differences were established, the means were compared using the Tukey test. The results, particularly the decay susceptibility index, showed that M. caesalpiniifolia and M. tenuiflora performed worse than the reference samples of CCAtreated Eucalyptus. However, their performance was similar. These results highlight that both species studied produce durable woods suitable for outdoor use and direct contact with the soil.

Source: Revista Árvore

DOI: 10.53661/1806-9088202650264102