Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: LAURA BEATRIZ PIRES DAS NEVES

DOSES AND FORMS OF APPLICATION OF BIOMASS ASH ON THE GROWTH AND BIOCHEMICAL BEHAVIOR OF Eucalyptus spp. IN PARAGOMINAS – PA

Heavy metals; Forest residues; Fertilizer.

The growing demand for renewable energy sources has driven the use of forest biomass as a sustainable alternative to the burning of fossil fuels. In this context, the timber industry, especially in the MDF and cellulose production sector, has adopted biomass boilers, generating large volumes of ash as a byproduct. These residues, often underutilized, have potential for agricultural and forestry use due to the presence of essential nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium and potassium. However, their use is still controversial due to environmental risks, especially the presence of heavy metals. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different doses and forms of application of biomass ash on the dendrometric and biochemical development of seedlings of the Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus brassiana hybrid, cultivated in a commercial plantation area in the municipality of Paragominas - PA. The specific objectives included analyzing above- and below-ground growth parameters, such as stem diameter, height, aerial and root biomass, as well as the biochemical behavior of the plants. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in a 2x5 factorial scheme, considering two application methods (total area and planting row) and five ash doses (0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 Mg.ha⁻¹), in order to support recommendations for the safe and efficient use of ash in forest management.