Incluye referencias bibliográficas e índice

About the Authors; Chapter 1: Timber-Yielding Plants of the Tamaulipan Thorn Scrub: Forest, Fodder, and Bioenergy Potential; 1 Introduction; 2 Objectives; 2.1 General Objective; 2.2 Specific Objectives; 3 Justification; 4 Review of Literature; 4.1 General Aspects of Tamaulipan Thorn Scrub; 4.2 Botanical Description of the Species Selected for the Study; 4.2.1 Helietta parvifolia (Gray) Benth. (Rutaceae). "Barreta"; 4.2.2 Ebenopsis ebano (Benth.) Coulter (Fabaceae). "Ebano"; 4.2.3 Havardia pallens (Benth.) Standl. (Fabaceae)."Tenaza"

4.2.4 Acacia wrightii Benth. (Fabaceae). "Uña de gato"4.2.5 Acacia berlandieri Benth. (Fabaceae). "Huajillo"; 4.3 Phenology; 4.4 Biomass; 4.5 Litterfall; 4.6 Forest Plantation; 4.6.1 Silviculture and Process of Logging; 4.6.2 Wood as Prime Matter; 4.6.2.1 Wood Components; 4.7 Bioenergy and Biofuels in Mexico; 4.8 Factors Influencing the Quality of Biofuel; 4.8.1 Moisture Content; 4.8.2 Volatile Materials; 4.8.3 Ash; 4.8.4 Fixed Carbon; 4.8.5 Calorific Value; 4.9 Classification of Biofuels; 4.9.1 Norms of Charcoal Quality; 4.9.2 Environmental Impact of the Forest Sector; 4.9.2.1 Chloride (Cl−)

4.9.2.2 Sulfates (SO42−)4.10 Chromatography; 4.10.1 History of the Importance of Ionic Chromatography; 5 Materials and Methods; 5.1 Description of the Study Area; 5.1.1 Localization; 5.1.2 Topography; 5.1.3 Climate; 5.1.4 Soils; 5.1.5 Vegetation; 5.2 Description of Treatments, Sampling Methods, and Statistical Analysis; 5.2.1 Experimental Design and Selection of Species; 5.2.2 Methods of Sampling; 5.2.2.1 Phenological Development of the Timber-Yielding Species of the Tamaulipan Thorn Scrub; 5.2.2.2 Estimation of Forest Production of Thorn Scrub; 5.2.2.2.1 Diameter; 5.2.2.2.2 Total Height

5.2.2.2.3 Volume of Wood5.2.2.2.4 Canopy Cover; 5.2.2.3 Direct Quantification of Potential Productivity of Experimental Plantations of the Tamaulipan Thorn Scrub; 5.2.2.4 Quantification of Forage Biomass of the Tamaulipan Thorn Scrub; 5.2.2.4.1 Foliar Biomass of Tree-Shrub Strata; 5.2.2.4.2 Litterfall Production of Shrub-Arboreal Stratum; 5.2.2.4.3 Biomass of Herbaceous Vegetation; 5.2.2.5 Energy Characterization and Chemical Composition; 5.2.2.5.1 Preparation of Samples; 5.2.2.5.2 Process of Carbonization; 5.2.2.5.3 Determination of Yield in Charcoal; 5.2.2.5.4 Proximate Analysis

5.2.2.5.4.1 Moisture Content5.2.2.5.4.2 Volatile Material; 5.2.2.5.4.3 Ash Content; 5.2.2.5.4.4 Fixed Carbon; 5.2.2.5.4.5 Calorific Value; 5.2.2.5.5 Elemental Analysis; 5.2.2.5.6 Compositional Analysis; 5.2.2.5.6.1 Inorganic Substances; 5.2.2.5.6.2 Microanalysis of Ashes; 5.2.2.5.6.3 Extractable Substances; 5.2.2.5.6.4 Lignin; 5.2.2.5.6.5 Holocellulose; 5.2.2.5.7 Physical Properties; 5.2.2.5.7.1 pH; 5.2.2.5.7.2 Experimental Calorific Value; 5.2.2.6 Characterization of Biofuels with the Environment; 5.2.3 Statistical Analysis; 6 Results; 6.1 Phenological Development of the Species Studied

Face to the current global energy crisis, there is an urgent necessity of searching for alternatives to fossil fuels, and this book shows how timber is a promising resource for sustainable energy production. Northeast Mexico represents an important forest resource to satisfy the needs of the population in these areas. In order to harness these forest resources, technology for exploring these valuable resources must be developed. These technologies (with special reference to biology and wood technologies) are available in scattered form in a few books but there is no central, comprehensive source for practical forest scientists for adopting efficient forest management, practice, and exploration. This book deals with the characterization of the vegetation, morphology, phenological development, biomass production (leaf, litter, wood), and bioenergy of some timber-yielding species of Northeast Mexico, which will serve as a guide to study timber-yielding plants in the native vegetation of Tamaulipan thornscrub and experimental plantations. This includes morphology, vegetation cover, biomass production in terms of volume leaf biomass, litter, and volume of fire wood and timber. Special emphasis is given to the estimation of bioenergy products and chemical composition (Ph, extractable lignin, and inorganic elements). Large variations exist in vegetation cover, morphology, phenological development, biomass production of leaf and litter, volume of wood and various variable of bioenergy products among the selected species. The maximum production was found in summer and the volume of the harvestable timber was obtained in experimental plantations. This book, therefore, will serve as a practical handbook to characterize timber-yielding plants, which will help to efficiently manage forestry resources.