The demand for wood fuel from caatinga vegetation has caused landscape modifications and loss of biodiversity due to insufficient information on species management. As seasonal climate influences plant survival, biological rhythm, regrowth and productivity, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of seasonality on the biological rhythm and biomass production of Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul. (Caesalpiniaceae).A total of 180 individuals of C. pyramidalis were randomly selected, distributed in three blocks of 1 ha of caatinga (60 trees each). The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with six treatments (two seasons and three consecutive evaluation years) for survival and four treatments (two seasons and two measurement years) for aerial biomass production. Measurements were carried out in two seasons: dry and wet, with half of the number of individuals in each block (n=30) being coppiced in each season. After cutting, fresh weight was determined for three components: fuel wood, posts and "twigs and leaves". The trees were monitored for three years, their survival monitored annually and regrowth biomass production measured in the last year. The survival of the trees was high and similar during the three years, independent of the season in which they were coppiced. When originally cut, the trees provided a high percentage of fuel wood and the regrowth provided a high percentage of "twigs and leaves". The original size of the trees does not explain the variation in regrowth fresh weight.. The study shows that, despite sprouting after coppicing, three years are not sufficient to provide adequate wood production in C. pyramidalis. A longer fallow period is necessary to guarantee sufficient growth to meet wood fuel demand of the rural population.
Biomass; fuel wood; post; "twigs and leaves"; caatinga
