ENERGY POTENTIAL OF SPECIES FROM FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE RIO GRANDE DO NORTE STATE

The objective was to evaluate the energy potential of woods of species under forest management plan from Serido region in the Rio Grande do Norte state. It was used the wood species Jurema Preta, Pereiro, Marmeleiro, Catingueira, Mororo, Imburana, Jurema Branca and Mofumbo, at 20 years old, originated from the Dominga's farm in the Caico/RN municipality. The density, the content of volatiles, the ash and fixed carbon, calorific value, elemental composition and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) and carbon/hydrogen (C/H) analysis were carried out in the wood. Additionally, the amount of energy produced in kW.h.m(-3) and kW.h.ha(-1) for all species was estimated. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with eight treatments (species), four replicates (sample trees), adding up to 32 sampling units. There were significant differences, at 5 % significance between treatments for all variables, except for hydrogen percentage and C/H ratio. It was concluded that Mororo's wood shows high energy potential, and along with Jurema Preta, presents higher energy generation per m(3), and provides greater economy for the same productivity. The energy potential Jurema Preta wood's stands out among the species. Pereiro's wood stands for energy production per hectare. Marmeleiro and Jurema Branca's woods are indicated as direct burning potential and Imburana's wood is not recommended for power generation.