Quali-Quantitative Evaluation of Ficus benjamina L. in Street Tree Planting of Áureo Filho Housing Complex – Feira de Santana, BA, Brazil

Resumo

Urban tree planting plays an essential role in the environmental quality of cities, offering ecological, aesthetic and social benefits. Among the species commonly used in Brazilian urban landscaping, Ficus benjamina L. stands out, although there is a scarcity of studies addressing its behavior and adaptability in the urban environment. Considering this, the present work aims to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively the individuals of the species present in the street tree planting of the Áureo Filho Housing Complex, in Feira de Santana (BA). For this purpose, an in loco inventory was carried out, considering variables such as total height and bifurcation height, in addition to aspects such as the phytosanitary condition and the need for management. The results showed that the species represents a high percentage of the local tree planting, with heights that vary between 2 and 17 meters (average of 9.7 m). The presence of recurrent damage caused by drastic and inadequate pruning was also found. The general analysis indicated that 48.7% of the trees had phytosanitary issues, and that 53.8% need corrective actions. Therefore, the high frequency of planting the species, associated with the proximity between individuals, may be favoring the dissemination of pests and diseases. The data indicate the low suitability of Ficus benjamina L. to local conditions, thus reinforcing the need for careful planning in the selection of species for urban tree planting.