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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #364065
Research Project: Enhancing Production and Ecosystem Services of Horticultural and Agricultural Systems in the Southeastern United States

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Mineral composition of eucalyptus bark and wood as a function of sample height and gypsum application

Author
item TABORDA, FLAVIANE - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item FERREIRA, CARLA - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item MAGRI, EDERLAN - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item BASSACO, MARCOS - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item Prior, Stephen
item MOTTA, ANTONIO - Universidade Federal Do Parana

Submitted to: Scientia Agraria
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/17/2025
Publication Date: 8/26/2025
Citation: Taborda, F., Ferreira, C.F., Magri, E., Bassaco, M.V., Prior, S.A., Motta, A.C. 2025. Mineral composition of eucalyptus bark and wood as a function of sample height and gypsum application. Scientia Agraria. 21(1):1-8. https://doi.org/10.5380/sa.v21i1.97016.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5380/sa.v21i1.97016

Interpretive Summary: Eucalyptus urograndis is an important timber species and carbon sink in southern Brazil. Agricultural gypsum can be used as a Ca and S source for plants and soil conditioner. This study investigated applying gypsum (0, 1.2, 4.8, and 9.6 Mg/ha at planting) on the mineral composition of Eucalyptus urograndis (bark and wood) in subtropical Brazil. Low mobility elements (Ca, Fe, Al, Mn) accumulate at the log base while the opposite occurred for high mobility elements (K, S and P). Gypsum use increased Ca, S, and P concentrations and decreased Mn. Bark tissue had 15 to 20 times more Ca and Mn than found in wood tissue; Mg, K, and P were also higher in bark but not as concentrated. Overall, large gypsum amounts were needed to promote changes in mineral composition of eucalyptus bark and wood.

Technical Abstract: The aim of this study was to establish the influence of gypsum application on mineral composition of log tissue (bark and wood) of the hybrid Eucalyptus urograndis at Parana State - Brazil on an acid Oxissol. Four gypsum rates (0, 1.2, 4.8 and 9.6 Mg ha-1) were broadcasted before planting. Three years after planting, one tree for plot was harvested and five discs were cut each tree, one in each position (1 - the base, 2 - at 25, 3 - 50, 4 - 75 and 5 - 100% of commercial height), and separated wood and bark for Ca, Mg, K, P, S, Mn, Al, Fe, Zn and Cu determination. It was observed that the low mobility elements (Ca, Fe, Al, Mn) accumulate at the base of the log tissue, and the opposite for high mobility (K, S and P). The application of gypsum increased the concentrations of Ca, S and P, and decreased of Mn. The bark tissue was 15 to 20 times more concentrated for Ca and Mn than the wood one. Mg, K and P got higher concentration for bark than wood. Large amounts of gypsum are necessary to promote changes in mineral composition of bark and wood in eucalyptus.