RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOISTURE CONTENT AND FLAMMABILITY OF CERRADO SPECIES IN SOUTHERN TOCANTINS

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between moisture content and flammability of nine plant species from the Cerrado in southern Tocantins. The species studied were: Machaerium brasiliense, Qualea grandiflora, Luehea grandiflora, Campomanesia guaviroba, Astronium fraxinifolium, Curatella americana, Bauhinia forficata, Vatairea macrocarpa, and Anacardium Occidentale. The plants were analyzed at four moisture contents (M1, M2, M3, and M4). For each level, 50 samples (1 g ± 0.1 g) of each species were collected, and 50 repetitions of burning were performed. The parameters analyzed were: time to ignition (TI), frequency of ignition (FI), duration of combustion (DC), combustion index (CI), flammability value (FV), and height of flames (HF). Our results showed that moisture contents influence flammability in Cerrado plant species. The correlation coefficients between moisture and flammability parameters were r = 0.951 (TI), r = -0.962 (DC), r = -0.977 (HF), and r = -0.988 (FI).

Determination of flammability parameters for organic waste resulting from the processing of sunflower seeds

Agricultural waste is found in abundance in the environment, whether it is the plant itself represented by the stem, leaf or seeds that have been peeled or other waste. By drying and crushing the residues from the plants, organic powders will be formed with a variable granulation and humidity. Through the processing of oilseeds such as sunflower seeds, significant amounts of waste from seeds result. Seed shells resulting from technological processes crumble, forming fine powders, whose granulations are different. A certain percentage will be 63μm or smaller and if those fine powders are mixed with air can form clouds with explosive properties. The purpose of this paper was to determine the minimum ignition layer and cloud temperatures. Experimental determination of flammability parameters is particularly important in order to take the proper safety measures so that accidents can be avoided.

Can Shrub Flammability be Affected by Goat Grazing? Flammability Parameters of Mediterranean Shrub Species under Grazing

In this study, we evaluated changes in the potential flammability of different Mediterranean shrub species in a pine (Pinus pinea) forest in the Doñana Natural Park (of SW Spain) as a result of goat grazing. Plant height, total biomass, fine fuel biomass and leaves/wood ratio were measured in individual plants of each species in both grazed and ungrazed areas. Moisture content, mean time of ignition, mean time of combustion, gross heat of combustion (GHC) and flammability class of the studied shrub species were determined in the laboratory. The results of this experiment showed that grazing influenced the flammability characteristics of the studied shrub species. However, the strength of this effect was insufficient to modify the flammability index of these plants, except in the case of Myrtus communis, in which grazed plants presented a lower flammability index. According to Valette’s classification, Cistus salviifolius, Halimium halimifolium and Pistacea lentiscus are flammable species, Rosmarinus officinalis is a flammable-highly flammable species, and M. communis is non-flammable. The GHC values obtained were generally “intermediate”, except for those of R. officinalis, which were classified as “high”. The flammability parameters of the study species did not show a very marked trend in relation to grazing, but the vertical structure of plants did change by presenting reduced biomass of leaves and fine twigs. This change altered the physical characteristics of these plants and possibly acted to reduce the inherent fire risk of the shrublands.

Terpenoid Accumulation Links Plant Health and Flammability in the Cypress-Bark Canker Pathosystem

To explore the possible relationship between diseased trees and wildfires, we assessed the flammability of canker-resistant and susceptible common cypress clones that were artificially infected with Seiridium cardinale compared to healthy trees. This study explored the effect of terpenoids produced by the host plant in response to infection and the presence of dead plant portions on flammability. Terpenoids were extracted and quantified in foliage and bark samples by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). A Mass Loss Calorimeter was used to determine the main flammability descriptors. The concentration of terpenoids in bark and leaf samples and the flammability parameters were compared using a generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) model. A partial least square (PLS) model was generated to predict flammability based on the content of terpenoid, clone response to bark canker and the disease status of the plants. The total terpenoid content drastically increased in the bark of both cypress clones after infection, with a greater (7-fold) increase observed in the resistant clone. On the contrary, levels of terpenoids in leaves did not alter after infection. The GLMM model showed that after infection, plants of the susceptible clone appeared to be much more flammable in comparison to those of resistant clones, showing higher ignitability, combustibility, sustainability and consumability. This was mainly due to the presence of dried crown parts in the susceptible clone. The resistant clone showed a slightly higher ignitability after infection, while the other flammability parameters did not change. The PLS model (R2Y = 56%) supported these findings, indicating that dead crown parts and fuel moisture content accounted for most of the variation in flammability parameters and greatly prevailed on terpenoid accumulation after infection. The results of this study suggest that a disease can increase the flammability of trees. The deployment of canker-resistant cypress clones can reduce the flammability of cypress plantations in Mediterranean areas affected by bark canker. Epidemiological data of diseased tree distribution can be an important factor in the prediction of fire risk.