Preference and calorific value of fuelwood species in rural populations in northwestern Patagonia

CARDOSO, M. B., LADIO, H. A., LOZADA, M.; DUTRUS, S.

BIOMASS AND BIOENERGY

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2015 vol. 81 p. 514 - 520

0961-9534

Traditional knowledge of fuel species was evaluated, associating species preferences with thephysical properties of wood and its combustibility. The physical characteristics of 21 popular firewoodspecies were analyzed in three rural communities in the northwest of Patagonia. Semi- structuredinterviews were carried out in 91 homes, as well as free listing and walks; samples of the woodyspecies were collected in each of the homes visited. We have hypothesized that the experience ofgathering and using fuelwood species, as cognitive know-how, over generations will have enabled localpeople to know species have best fuel attributes, such as hot coals, low spark and low smoke emission.Thus, for each sample, calorific value, density, moisture content and ash content were measured aspredictive variables of combustibility. The fuel attributes of the different woods represent physicalproperties for which were analyzed by means of the classification for Fuel Value Index (FVI) priorityspecies in the area. Results indicate that the species with the highest FVI values are those mostlypreferred by local people such as Berberis microphylla, Prosopis denudans, Schinus johnstonii, Lyciumspp., Senecio subulatus and Schinus marchandii. This work recommends the cultivation of energycrops of the preferred native species with high combustibility, to be used as bioenergy andmultipurpose species.