Inclusion of babassu bran produced in milk production in Amazonia.

One important species for extraction and subsistence of traditional populations in Brazil is the babassu palm (Attalea speciosa Mart ex Spreng). As a by-product of the babassu oil socio-productive chain in Amazonia region, the residual bran needs to be better used and could represent an additional source of income for coconut breakers, and a local alternative in the composition of diets for dairy cows. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of a diet containing babassu bran on the intake and digestibility of cows, their production and milk composition, in the Amazon region. The experimental trial was arranged in a Cross over design, composed of fourteen animals, two treatments and two periods of 28 days (21 days for adaptation to diets and 7 days for data collection). Treatments were concentrate without babassu bran (CNV) and with babassu bran (BBS). Milk composition did not differ significantly between treatments. The inclusion of 35.6% BBS in feed ration supported an average daily milk production of 18.2 kg/day, while CNV produced 19.8 kg/day. There was lower feed consumption for BBC, but equal to that of CNV when comparing liters of milk produced per kg of ingested concentrate (1:3.09 CNV × 1:3.07 BBS), which demonstrates that treatments did not differ in productive efficiency. Our results bring the possibility of a better use of babassu bran. This alternative could improve the quality of life of rural populations, while being linked to the conservation of native ecosystems and the sustainable use of socio-biodiversity products.

Effect of Babassu Mesocarp As a Food Supplement During Resistance Training.

The population widely uses babassu mesocarp (Attalea speciosa) as food and medicine. This study evaluated the use of babassu mesocarp as a food supplement during resistance training (RT). Male Swiss mice, 60 days old (weight 35-40 g), were divided into four groups (n = 8): control, untreated and untrained; babassu (babassu aqueous extract [BAE]), treated orally with aqueous extract of babassu mesocarp (25 mg/kg), five times a week, for 8 weeks; training (RT), submitted to RT consisting of stair climbing with progressive loads; and resistance training treated with babassu aqueous extract (RTBAE): RT and treatment with BAE. After 8 weeks, we analyzed the biochemistry of serum, the immunological, and histological parameters. The RT group showed maximum strength after the second week. A reduction in body weight, retroperitoneal and interstitial fat deposits, and activated helper T lymphocytes (TCD4+ CD69+) occurred in RT and RTBAE groups. The RTBAE group showed increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and macrophage and helper T lymphocyte count, whereas a reduction occurred in triglyceride levels and the total number of lymphocytes. Supplementation with BAE always reduced cholesterol and the population of activated macrophages but increased activated B lymphocytes and interleukin-6 levels. The combination of supplementation and RT resulted in a decreased production of tumor necrosis factor-α. We propose the use of babassu mesocarp as a food supplement during exercise because of its immunomodulatory effect on lymphocyte and macrophage populations and cytokine production. The additional impact on the control of cholesterol and triglyceride levels suggests its use, particularly for the treatment of dyslipidemias.

Litter decomposition and nutrient release dynamics of leaves and roots of the babassu palm in eastern Amazonia

The ruderal babassu palm (Attalea speciosa) is expanding on large areas of degraded Amazon landscapes. Decomposition of leaves and roots is in the center of plant:soil interactions. We evaluated decomposition and nutrient concentrations of leaves and fine roots of babassu in comparison with two exotic reference species, Acacia mangium (slow degradability) and Leucaena leucocephala (fast degradability), in a 138-day litterbag assay carried out in secondary forest stands of different age and babassu abundance. We chose 4-mm over 2-mm mesh litterbags based on a pilot study. Babassu leaves degraded slower than leaves of A. mangium and L. leucocephala, and also had lower nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium concentrations in all stages of decomposition. By contrast, potassium concentrations in babassu leaves were higher than in both reference species at 0 and 50 days. Roots of all three species decomposed slower than leaves. Compared to the leaves, both biomass loss and nutrient concentrations differed less between babassu and reference-species roots, except for lower nitrogen concentration in babassu roots. Leaf-litter decomposition of all three species was significantly faster in old than in young secondary forest, suggesting an acceleration of decomposition along succession. Babassu leaves decomposed faster in old babassu-dominated than non-dominated secondary forest, pointing to the existence of specialized decomposer communities in babassu-dominated stands. (AU)

Effects of the dietary inclusion of babassu oil or buriti oil on lamb performance, meat quality and fatty acid composition.

The effects of adding babassu oil (BAO) or buriti oil (BUO) to lamb diets, on performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and fatty acid (FA) composition were evaluated. Feeding BAO reduced (P = .02) dry matter intake, kidney fat and dressing percentage, but did not change energy intake and performance. Meat pH, color, protein content and sensorial evaluation were not affected by diet. However, BUO increased (P = .02) intramuscular and subcutaneous fat contents, but decreased shear force. BAO increased (P < .05) trans-monounsaturated FA, total biohydrogenation intermediates (BHI) and the t10:t11 ratio, in meat and subcutaneous fat, but decreased total FA and cis-monounsaturated FA, did not change SFA, and increased (P = .04) PUFA in meat. BUO supplementation promoted the highest (P < .05) SFA and total FA content in subcutaneous fat but did not change PUFA. BAO can be used as an alternative energy source for growing lambs, but does not improve the meat FA composition.

Litter decomposition and nutrient release dynamics of leaves and roots of the babassu palm in eastern Amazonia / Decomposição de serrapilheira e dinâmica de nutrientes de folhas e raízes da palmeira babaçu na periferia leste da Amazônia

The ruderal babassu palm (Attalea speciosa) is expanding on large areas of degraded Amazon landscapes. Decomposition of leaves and roots is in the center of plant:soil interactions. We evaluated decomposition and nutrient concentrations of leaves and fine roots of babassu in comparison with two exotic reference species, Acacia mangium (slow degradability) and Leucaena leucocephala (fast degradability), in a 138-day litterbag assay carried out in secondary forest stands of different age and babassu abundance. We chose 4-mm over 2-mm mesh litterbags based on a pilot study. Babassu leaves degraded slower than leaves of A. mangium and L. leucocephala, and also had lower nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium concentrations in all stages of decomposition. By contrast, potassium concentrations in babassu leaves were higher than in both reference species at 0 and 50 days. Roots of all three species decomposed slower than leaves. Compared to the leaves, both biomass loss and nutrient concentrations differed less between babassu and reference-species roots, except for lower nitrogen concentration in babassu roots. Leaf-litter decomposition of all three species was significantly faster in old than in young secondary forest, suggesting an acceleration of decomposition along succession. Babassu leaves decomposed faster in old babassu-dominated than non-dominated secondary forest, pointing to the existence of specialized decomposer communities in babassu-dominated stands.(AU)

A palmeira ruderal babaçu (Attalea speciosa) se expande em grandes áreas da Amazônia já desmatada e degradada. A decomposição é chave na dinâmica sucessional e nas interações planta:solo. Avaliamos decomposição e concentração de nutrientes de folhas e raízes finas de babaçu e de duas espécies exóticas de referência, Acacia mangium (decomposição lenta) e Leucaena leucocephala (decomposição rápida), em capoeiras de diferente idade e grau de dominância de babaçu usando litterbags durante 138 dias. Usamos litterbags com malha de 4 mm em vez de 2 mm, com base em um estudo-piloto. As folhas de babaçu se decompuseram mais lentamente que as de A. mangium e L. leucocephala, e apresentaram concentrações mais baixas de nitrogênio, fósforo e cálcio em todos os estágios de decomposição. Em contraste, a concentração de potássio em folhas de babaçu foi mais alta que nas espécies de referência aos 0 e 50 dias. Raízes se decompuseram mais lentamente que folhas nas três espécies. Tanto a perda de massa, como a concentração de nutrientes diferiram menos entre as raízes que entre as folhas de babaçu e as espécies de referência, exceto a concentração de nitrogênio nas raízes de babaçu. A decomposição foliar das três espécies foi significantemente mais rápida em capoeira velha que em capoeira jovem, sugerindo uma aceleração da decomposição ao longo dos estágios sucessionais. A decomposição foliar do babaçu foi mais rápida em capoeira velha com alta dominância de babaçu que em capoeira velha com baixa dominância, apontando para a existência de comunidades especializadas de decompositores em áreas dominadas por babaçu.(AU)

First Study on the Oxidative Stability and Elemental Analysis of Babassu (Attalea speciosa) Edible Oil Produced in Brazil Using a Domestic Extraction Machine.

Interest in edible oil extraction processes is growing interest because the final nutritional quality of the extracted oil depends on the procedure used to obtain ir. In this context, a domestic cold oil press machine is a valuable tool that avoids the use of chemicals during oil extraction, in an environmentally friendly way. Although babassu (Attalea speciosa) oil is economically important in several Brazilian regions due to its nutritional and healthy features, few studies have been conducted on the chemical composition and stability of babassu oils extracted by cold pressing. Babassu oil's major constituents are saturated fatty acids (~86.42%), with the most prevalent fatty acids being lauric (~47.40%), myristic (15.64%), and oleic (~11.28%) acids, respectively, within the recommended range by Codex Alimentarius, presenting atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indexes favorable for human consumption. Peroxide value, Rancimat, and TGA/DSC results indicated that babassu oil is stable to oxidation. Also, macro- (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P) and micro-elements (Fe, Mn, Cr, Se, Al, and Zn) of babassu oil were determined, revealing levels below the tolerable upper intake level (ULs) for adults. These findings demonstrated that cold-press extraction using a domestic machine yielded a high-quality oil that kept oil chemical composition stable to oxidation with natural antioxidants.

Silage of the agro-industrial co-product of babassu palm heart processing in sheep feed / Silagem de coproduto da industrialização do palmito de babaçu na alimentação de ovinos

The inner bark or less tender sheath generated from industrial manufacture of canned babassu palm (Attalea speciosa) heart is inadequate for human consumption, often being discarded inappropriately and giving rise to environmental pollution. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to assess the intake and digestibility in sheep fed on silage of the agro-industrial co-product of babassu palm (ICBP)enriched with different additives, or on sugarcane silage. Fifteen Santa Inês sheep were distributed in a completely randomized design, consisting of five treatments and three replicates. The treatments comprised babassu palm silage enriched with broken maize (BM), broken rice (BR), cassava scrapings (CS), coffee husk combined with maize kernel (CC), and sugarcane silage (SC), all supplemented with concentrate, at a voluminous:concentrate ratio of 65:35. Silages based on ICBP and SC had similar intake of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), and non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC). Increasing the additive fraction in ICBP silages favored the digestibility of DM, OM, CP, NFC, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and total digestible nutrients (TDN). Our results indicated that silage based on additive-enriched ICBP can be used in the diet of ruminants, especially those based on broken maize and cassava scrapings that provide superior nutritional quality compared to the other silages assessed.(AU)

No processo industrial de fabricação de palmito babaçu (Attalea speciosa) em conserva, a entrecasca ou bainha menos tenra, apresenta características impróprias à alimentação humana, sendo muitas vezes descartada de forma inadequada, oferecendo riscos de poluição ambiental. De tal forma, objetivou-se avaliar o consumo e a digestibilidade em ovinos recebendo silagens de coproduto da industrialização de palmito babaçu (CIPB) com diferentes aditivos ou silagem de cana-de-açúcar. Utilizou-se 15 ovelhas da raça Santa Inês, distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, constituindo de cinco tratamentos e três repetições. Os tratamentos compreendiam dietas de silagem de babaçu enriquecidas com quirera de milho (QM), quirera de arroz (QA), raspa de mandioca (RM), casca de café combinada com quirera de milho (CC), e silagem de cana-de-açúcar (CA), todos complementadas com concentrado, na relação volumoso:concentrado, 65:35. Silagens a base de CIPB e CA tiveram consumos de matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE) e carboidrato não-fibroso (CNF) semelhantes. O incremento de aditivos às silagens de CIPB favoreceram a digestibilidade da MS, MO, PB, CNF, fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e de nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT). Silagem a base de CIPB pode ser utilizada na dieta de ruminantes com a inclusão de aditivos, especialmente quirera de milho e raspa de mandioca, que conferem qualidade nutricional superior às demais silagens avaliadas.(AU)

Silage of the agro-industrial co-product of babassu palm heart processing in sheep feed / Silagem de coproduto da industrialização do palmito de babaçu na alimentação de ovinos

ABSTRACT: The inner bark or less tender sheath generated from industrial manufacture of canned babassu palm (Attalea speciosa) heart is inadequate for human consumption, often being discarded inappropriately and giving rise to environmental pollution. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to assess the intake and digestibility in sheep fed on silage of the agro-industrial co-product of babassu palm (ICBP)enriched with different additives, or on sugarcane silage. Fifteen Santa Inês sheep were distributed in a completely randomized design, consisting of five treatments and three replicates. The treatments comprised babassu palm silage enriched with broken maize (BM), broken rice (BR), cassava scrapings (CS), coffee husk combined with maize kernel (CC), and sugarcane silage (SC), all supplemented with concentrate, at a voluminous:concentrate ratio of 65:35. Silages based on ICBP and SC had similar intake of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), and non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC). Increasing the additive fraction in ICBP silages favored the digestibility of DM, OM, CP, NFC, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and total digestible nutrients (TDN). Our results indicated that silage based on additive-enriched ICBP can be used in the diet of ruminants, especially those based on broken maize and cassava scrapings that provide superior nutritional quality compared to the other silages assessed.

RESUMO: No processo industrial de fabricação de palmito babaçu (Attalea speciosa) em conserva, a entrecasca ou bainha menos tenra, apresenta características impróprias à alimentação humana, sendo muitas vezes descartada de forma inadequada, oferecendo riscos de poluição ambiental. De tal forma, objetivou-se avaliar o consumo e a digestibilidade em ovinos recebendo silagens de coproduto da industrialização de palmito babaçu (CIPB) com diferentes aditivos ou silagem de cana-de-açúcar. Utilizou-se 15 ovelhas da raça Santa Inês, distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, constituindo de cinco tratamentos e três repetições. Os tratamentos compreendiam dietas de silagem de babaçu enriquecidas com quirera de milho (QM), quirera de arroz (QA), raspa de mandioca (RM), casca de café combinada com quirera de milho (CC), e silagem de cana-de-açúcar (CA), todos complementadas com concentrado, na relação volumoso:concentrado, 65:35. Silagens a base de CIPB e CA tiveram consumos de matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE) e carboidrato não-fibroso (CNF) semelhantes. O incremento de aditivos às silagens de CIPB favoreceram a digestibilidade da MS, MO, PB, CNF, fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e de nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT). Silagem a base de CIPB pode ser utilizada na dieta de ruminantes com a inclusão de aditivos, especialmente quirera de milho e raspa de mandioca, que conferem qualidade nutricional superior às demais silagens avaliadas.

Agronomic, morphogenic and structural characteristics of Marandu grass in silvopastoral systems composed of babassu palm and grass monoculture / Características agronômicas, morfogênicas e estruturais do capim-Marandu em sistemas silvipastoris formados por palmeiras de babaçu e em monocultura

This study evaluated the agronomic, morphogenic and structural characteristics of palisadegrass (Urochloa brizantha) in silvopastoral systems (SSPs) composed of babassu palms (Attalea speciosa) and grass monoculture in the Pre-Amazon region of the state of Maranhão, Brazil. The study followed a completely randomized design, with the arrangement in split plots with six replicates for the evaluation of agronomic characteristics and 30 repetitions for the morphogenic and structural characteristics. The plots were divided into pasture environments with different palm densities (monoculture, 80, 131, 160 palms.ha-¹), and the subplots were divided into the different seasons (rainy and dry). Total forage production was affected (P 0.05) by the interaction between palm density and season. The rainy season, compared to the dry season, presented higher total forage production, whereas among silvopastoral systems, the one with 80 palms.ha-¹ presented higher production. The same pattern was found for leaf production. In the rainy season the production of culms increased, as did the ratio leaf.culm-1. Regarding the accumulation of dead material, the only observed difference was a smaller accumulation in the dry season for pastures with 160 palms.ha-¹. In the rainy season, the leaf elongation rate, leaf appearance rate, and final leaf length had higher values in the silvopastoral syste

Objetivou-se avaliar as características agronômicas, morfogênicas e estruturais do capim-Marandu (Urochloa brizantha) em sistemas silvipastoris (SSPs) compostos por palmeiras de babaçu (Attalea speciosa) e em monocultivo de capim-Marandu na região Pré-Amazônica Maranhense. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com o arranjo em parcelas subdivididas com seis repetições para a avaliação das características agronômicas e 30 repetições para as características morfogênicas e estruturais. As parcelas foram constituídas pelos ambientes pastoris e suas densidades (monocultura, 80, 131, 160 palmeiras.ha-¹) e nas subparcelas os períodos (chuvoso e seco). A produção total de forragem foi influenciada (P 0,05) pela interação densidades x épocas do ano. Entre as épocas, o período chuvoso foi o que apresentou maior produção total de forragem e entre os ambientes pastoris a densidade de 80 palmeiras.ha-¹ apresentou maior produção. A mesma resposta foi encontrada para a produção de folhas. No período chuvoso foi observado maior produção de colmos e relação folha. colmo-1. Para o acúmulo de material morto só houve efeito (P 0,05) entre os períodos, onde pastagens com 160 palmeiras.ha-¹, no período seco tiveram menor acúmulo. No período chuvoso, as taxas de alongamento foliar, aparecimento foliar, e comprimento final da folha tiveram maiores valores no am

Agronomic, morphogenic and structural characteristics of Marandu grass in silvopastoral systems composed of babassu palm and grass monoculture / Características agronômicas, morfogênicas e estruturais do capim-Marandu em sistemas silvipastoris formados por palmeiras de babaçu e em monocultura

This study evaluated the agronomic, morphogenic and structural characteristics of palisadegrass (Urochloa brizantha) in silvopastoral systems (SSPs) composed of babassu palms (Attalea speciosa) and grass monoculture in the Pre-Amazon region of the state of Maranhão, Brazil. The study followed a completely randomized design, with the arrangement in split plots with six replicates for the evaluation of agronomic characteristics and 30 repetitions for the morphogenic and structural characteristics. The plots were divided into pasture environments with different palm densities (monoculture, 80, 131, 160 palms.ha-¹), and the subplots were divided into the different seasons (rainy and dry). Total forage production was affected (P 0.05) by the interaction between palm density and season. The rainy season, compared to the dry season, presented higher total forage production, whereas among silvopastoral systems, the one with 80 palms.ha-¹ presented higher production. The same pattern was found for leaf production. In the rainy season the production of culms increased, as did the ratio leaf.culm-1. Regarding the accumulation of dead material, the only observed difference was a smaller accumulation in the dry season for pastures with 160 palms.ha-¹. In the rainy season, the leaf elongation rate, leaf appearance rate, and final leaf length had higher values in the silvopastoral syste

Objetivou-se avaliar as características agronômicas, morfogênicas e estruturais do capim-Marandu (Urochloa brizantha) em sistemas silvipastoris (SSPs) compostos por palmeiras de babaçu (Attalea speciosa) e em monocultivo de capim-Marandu na região Pré-Amazônica Maranhense. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com o arranjo em parcelas subdivididas com seis repetições para a avaliação das características agronômicas e 30 repetições para as características morfogênicas e estruturais. As parcelas foram constituídas pelos ambientes pastoris e suas densidades (monocultura, 80, 131, 160 palmeiras.ha-¹) e nas subparcelas os períodos (chuvoso e seco). A produção total de forragem foi influenciada (P 0,05) pela interação densidades x épocas do ano. Entre as épocas, o período chuvoso foi o que apresentou maior produção total de forragem e entre os ambientes pastoris a densidade de 80 palmeiras.ha-¹ apresentou maior produção. A mesma resposta foi encontrada para a produção de folhas. No período chuvoso foi observado maior produção de colmos e relação folha. colmo-1. Para o acúmulo de material morto só houve efeito (P 0,05) entre os períodos, onde pastagens com 160 palmeiras.ha-¹, no período seco tiveram menor acúmulo. No período chuvoso, as taxas de alongamento foliar, aparecimento foliar, e comprimento final da folha tiveram maiores valores no am

Allometry of the babassu palm growing on a slash-and-burn agroecosystem of the eastern periphery of Amazonia / Allometria da palmeira babaçu em um agroecossistema de derruba-e-queima na periferia este da Amazônia

Babassu (Attalea speciosa C.Martius, Arecaceae) is a palm with extraordinary socioeconomic and ecologic importance in large areas of tropical Brazil, especially in frequently burned and degraded landscapes. Nevertheless, surprisingly little is known about this keystone species. This paper investigates the allometry of babassu, in order to improve understanding on palm architecture and to provide researchers with an efficient tool for aboveground biomass estimation of juvenile and adult palms. Juvenile leaf biomass can be accurately predicted with the easily measurable minimum diameter of rachis at 30 cm extension. Adult palm biomass can be estimated based on woody stem height, a variable fairly easily measurable on-field. Leaf biomass of adult palms was highly variable, averaged 31.7 percent of aboveground biomass and can be estimated only indirectly through the relationships between wood:leaf-ratio and total aboveground biomass. Carbon contents varied little in the babassu palm, without size- or growth-stage related differences, suggesting the general applicability of values (42.5 percent C for stems, 39.8 percent C for leaves). As a consequence of the limited secondary diameter growth inherent to palms, stem diameter of adult palms is unrelated to palm height and biomass. Stem tapering decreases with increasing palm height. This is partially compensated by increasing wood density in near cylindrical stems. Nevertheless, maximum babassu palm height of about 30 meters appears to be dictated by mechanical stability constraints. All allometric relationships of babassu described in this study are not affected by vegetation stand age, indicating the general applicability of these relationships.

A palmeira babaçu (Attalea speciosa C.Martius, Arecaceae) tem grande importância socioeconômica e ecológica em grande parte da área tropical brasileira, especialmente em áreas degradadas por queimadas freqüentes na Amazônia. No entanto, ainda pouco se sabe sobre as características ecológicas desta espécie-chave. Este estudo investiga a alometria do babaçu com o objetivo de estabelecer uma metodologia eficiente na estimativa da biomassa aérea de palmeiras juvenis e adultas e para um melhor entendimento da sua arquitetura. A biomassa de palmeiras juvenis pode ser estimada facilmente e com precisão com o diâmetro mínimo das ráquis das folhas a 30 cm de extensão. A biomassa de palmeiras adultas pode ser estimada com base na altura do tronco lenhoso, também relativamente de fácil medição em campo. A biomassa foliar das palmeiras adultas foi em media 31,7 por cento da biomassa aérea, porém houve uma alta variação e, portanto, somente pode ser estimada indiretamente através da relação entre a razão madeira:folha e biomassa aérea total. Os teores de carbono no babaçu apresentaram baixa variação, sem diferenças sistemáticas em relação ao tamanho ou estágio de crescimento, o que aponta à aplicabilidade geral dos valores 42.5 por cento C para troncos, 39.8 por cento C para folhas. Em conseqüência do limitado crescimento secundário do diâmetro inerente de palmeiras, não houve relação do diâmetro de tronco com a altura e a biomassa das palmeiras adultas. Observou-se que o afilamento do caule diminui com o aumento da altura das palmeiras, o que é parcialmente compensado pelo incremento da densidade de madeira em troncos quase-cilíndricos. No entanto, a altura máxima do babaçu, de cerca de 30 metros, aparentemente está definida por limitações na estabilidade mecânica. Todas as relações alométricas aqui descritas são independentes da idade da vegetação, indicando a aplicabilidade geral das relações encontradas.

Allometry of the babassu palm growing on a slash-and-burn agroecosystem of the eastern periphery of Amazonia

Babassu (Attalea speciosa C.Martius, Arecaceae) is a palm with extraordinary socioeconomic and ecologic importance in large areas of tropical Brazil, especially in frequently burned and degraded landscapes. Nevertheless, surprisingly little is known about this keystone species. This paper investigates the allometry of babassu, in order to improve understanding on palm architecture and to provide researchers with an efficient tool for aboveground biomass estimation of juvenile and adult palms. Juvenile leaf biomass can be accurately predicted with the easily measurable minimum diameter of rachis at 30 cm extension. Adult palm biomass can be estimated based on woody stem height, a variable fairly easily measurable on-field. Leaf biomass of adult palms was highly variable, averaged 31.7% of aboveground biomass and can be estimated only indirectly through the relationships between wood:leaf-ratio and total aboveground biomass. Carbon contents varied little in the babassu palm, without size- or growth-stage related differences, suggesting the general applicability of values (42.5% C for stems, 39.8% C for leaves). As a consequence of the limited secondary diameter growth inherent to palms, stem diameter of adult palms is unrelated to palm height and biomass. Stem tapering decreases with increasing palm height. This is partially compensated by increasing wood density in near cylindrical stems. Nevertheless, maximum babassu palm height of about 30 meters appears to be dictated by mechanical stability constraints. All allometric relationships of babassu described in this study are not affected by vegetation stand age, indicating the general applicability of these relationships.

A palmeira babaçu (Attalea speciosa C.Martius, Arecaceae) tem grande importância socioeconômica e ecológica em grande parte da área tropical brasileira, especialmente em áreas degradadas por queimadas freqüentes na Amazônia. No entanto, ainda pouco se sabe sobre as características ecológicas desta espécie-chave. Este estudo investiga a alometria do babaçu com o objetivo de estabelecer uma metodologia eficiente na estimativa da biomassa aérea de palmeiras juvenis e adultas e para um melhor entendimento da sua arquitetura. A biomassa de palmeiras juvenis pode ser estimada facilmente e com precisão com o diâmetro mínimo das ráquis das folhas a 30 cm de extensão. A biomassa de palmeiras adultas pode ser estimada com base na altura do tronco lenhoso, também relativamente de fácil medição em campo. A biomassa foliar das palmeiras adultas foi em media 31,7% da biomassa aérea, porém houve uma alta variação e, portanto, somente pode ser estimada indiretamente através da relação entre a razão madeira:folha e biomassa aérea total. Os teores de carbono no babaçu apresentaram baixa variação, sem diferenças sistemáticas em relação ao tamanho ou estágio de crescimento, o que aponta à aplicabilidade geral dos valores 42.5% C para troncos, 39.8% C para folhas. Em conseqüência do limitado crescimento secundário do diâmetro inerente de palmeiras, não houve relação do diâmetro de tronco com a altura e a biomassa das palmeiras adultas. Observou-se que o afilamento do caule diminui com o aumento da altura das palmeiras, o que é parcialmente compensado pelo incremento da densidade de madeira em troncos quase-cilíndricos. No entanto, a altura máxima do babaçu, de cerca de 30 metros, aparentemente está definida por limitações na estabilidade mecânica. Todas as relações alométricas aqui descritas são independentes da idade da vegetação, indicando a aplicabilidade geral das relações encontradas.