WIND EFFECTS ON LOG VOLUME AND ON FORM FACTOR OF Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to quantify wind speed and to observe its influence on the form factor and on the volume of logs along the stem, in boundary and within Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis plantation situated in the county of Jaborandi City (BA). The wind speed data was measured by anemometers; the log volume by xilometer, and the form factor was got by division of log volumes measured with xilometer by adjust volume of trunk section by cylinder. Significant differences between the samples studied in boundary and within of plantation, were evidenced by a statistical non parametric test. The sigmoidal and inversely proportional relationship was observed between wind speed and the variables volume and form factor of trunk section of P. caribaea var. hondurensis, in other words, when the higher value of the wind speed is registered, lower values of form factor and the log volume were measured.