Inflamabilidade de materiais combustíveis de diferentes fitofisionomias na Paraíba, Brasil.

Abstract

The fires spread through the burning of combustible material that is distributed in the forest floor, especially the leaves. The study aimed to evaluate the flammability of combustible material produced in different physiognomies in Paraíba state, Brazil. For this reason we collected leaves, branches and leaf litter in an area of caatinga forest, Atlantic forest and plantation of pine trees located in different regions of the Paraíba. The flammability was assessed through observations of variables propagation speed and intensity of the fire in burns in experimental plots of 1.0 m2. For this reason were tested seven different combustible materials that constituted the following materials: T1- panasco grass; T2- craibeira; T3- juazeiro; T4- marmeleiro; T5- oiticica; T6- litter and T7- Pinus (control). The results showed that the intensity of the fire in treatment with panasco grass differ from the others, with 127.48 kW m-1, a value approximately 41% more than the treatment with Pinus (control). It is concluded that the rate of spread and intensity of the fire was higher in the treatment with panasco grass and its presence in areas of caatinga creates a mosaic of high flammability.