Wood basic density of Eucalyptus grandis from plantations in Central Rift Valley Kenya: variation with age height level and between sapwood and heartwood

Githiomi J. K., . and Kariuki J. G., . Wood basic density of Eucalyptus grandis from plantations in Central Rift Valley Kenya: variation with age height level and between sapwood and heartwood. pp. 281-286. ISSN 0128-1283

Basic wood density was studied in 410-year-old Eucalyptus grandis to provide information on variation in basic density between and within trees and at various ages. Wood discs were taken from six height levels of each tree for determination of basic wood density. The density was significantly influenced by age and tree height. It increased with age and was lowest at age 4 years (0.414 g cm-3) and highest at age 10 years (0.517 g cm-3). An equation y 0.0017x2 “ 0.007x 0.4159 to predict the basic density of E. grandis grown in similar conditions and for ages up to 10 years was derived where y is the basic density and x is the age. There were significant differences (p 0.05) in basic density between heartwood and sapwood. The basic density of ages 4 5 6 and 7 years were also closely related while that of ages 8 9 and 10 were distinctly different from one another. Therefore the rotation age of E. grandis for fuelwood plantations cannot be reduced from 10 years to 8 or 9 years since higher basic density at 10 years gives higher calorific values unless other growth and yield factors are considered.

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Abstract

Basic wood density was studied in 410-year-old Eucalyptus grandis to provide information on variation in basic density between and within trees and at various ages. Wood discs were taken from six height levels of each tree for determination of basic wood density. The density was significantly influenced by age and tree height. It increased with age and was lowest at age 4 years (0.414 g cm-3) and highest at age 10 years (0.517 g cm-3). An equation y 0.0017x2 “ 0.007x 0.4159 to predict the basic density of E. grandis grown in similar conditions and for ages up to 10 years was derived where y is the basic density and x is the age. There were significant differences (p 0.05) in basic density between heartwood and sapwood. The basic density of ages 4 5 6 and 7 years were also closely related while that of ages 8 9 and 10 were distinctly different from one another. Therefore the rotation age of E. grandis for fuelwood plantations cannot be reduced from 10 years to 8 or 9 years since higher basic density at 10 years gives higher calorific values unless other growth and yield factors are considered.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Wood density
AGROVOC Term:	Eucalyptus grandis
AGROVOC Term:	Plantations
AGROVOC Term:	Sapwood
AGROVOC Term:	Heartwood
AGROVOC Term:	Fuelwood
AGROVOC Term:	Wood properties
AGROVOC Term:	Hardwood
AGROVOC Term:	Wood defects
AGROVOC Term:	Wood density
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 06:27
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/21573

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