Season of cutting affects biomass production by coppicing browse species of the Brazilian caatinga

Abstract

This paper reports the effect of season of cutting on coppice biomass production by 5 tree species common in the semiarid caatinga woodlands of northeast Brazil. Trees were cut early and late in the wet and dry seasons and coppice biomass production was monitored for 2 growing seasons after cutting. No mortality occurred as a result of cutting in any season. The effect of season of cutting on subsequent coppice production was most pronounced in the first year but differences persisted into the second year. Production by trees cut late in the wet season lagged behind that of trees cut at any other time. This was true for all species except marmeliero (Croton hemiargyreus Muell. Arg.) during both years. Pau branco (Auxemma oncocalyx Taub.) production was maximized by cutting late in the dry season. Jurema preta (Mimosa acutistipula Benth.) and catingueira (Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul.) production was maximized by cutting early in the dry season. The season of cutting does not affect marmeliero stem production. Except for the late wet season, no treatment significantly affected sabiá Mimosa caesalpinifolia production. Stem biomass production is affected more by season of cut than is leaf biomass production. The different patterns of response among these species could be the basis of a selective cutting scheme to achieve objectives such as browse and wood production.