Oil productivity potential of Oenocarpus bataua Mart, in the Ecuadorian Amazon, Taisha Canton

Abstract

Oenocarpus bataua is widely distributed in the northern part of South America, in Ecuador it is found in the lowlands of the Amazon. The species has great potential for the production of suitable oil for human consumption and industry; its fruits are edible, from which a drink called chicha de ungurahua is prepared, very much desired by the communities. The objective of this research was to determine in the wild the oil productivity of Oenocarpus bataua, in the Shuar Chiriap community of Taisha canton, Province of Morona Santiago, with a net natural forest area of 300 ha. The methodology used was based on what is applied in a forest inventory of non-timber forest products. Among the main results, the presence of 500 production palms was determined, ranging from 15 to 35 cm DAP, commercial heights of 10 to 16 meters and natural regeneration of 18 375 seedlings. With respect to the oil extraction process by the traditional method, it was concluded that the average productivity potential was 0,78 l/palm/year, with a total average of 392 l/year, res-pectively, at 100 % of the net area of study; however, in order to guarantee the sustainability of the species in the long term, it was considered to take advantage of 40 % equivalent to 156,80 l / year.