International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

Wood physical, Anatomical and Mechanical properties of Big Leaf Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla Roxb) a potential exotic for South India

Author Affiliations

  • 1College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Kau (P.O.), Thrissur, Kerala 680656, INDIA
  • 2College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Kau (P.O.), Thrissur, Kerala 680656, INDIA
  • 3College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Kau (P.O.), Thrissur, Kerala 680656, INDIA
  • 4Central Wood Testing Laboratory, RRDTC Complex, Rubber Board Manganam PO., Kottayam-686 018, INDIA

Res. J. Agriculture & Forestry Sci., Volume 2, Issue (8), Pages 7-13, August,8 (2014)

Abstract

Big leaf mahoganySwietenia macrophylla Roxb. belonging to family Meliaceae is a most valuable timber tree species of the world. Due to the dwindling timber resource base, large scale cultivation of this species has to be enhanced through introduction to other suitable ecoclimatic conditions of the world. The wood quality of S. macrophylla introduced at Olavakkode research range at Dhoni, Palakkad in Kerala, south India were evaluated. Five trees were randomly selected from the research plot of the Kerala Forest Department and standard tests of wood physical, mechanical and anatomical properties were conducted on green, air-dry and oven-dry specimens. Results of the study indicated that the Swietenia macrophylla logs had a volume of 0.17 m3 and bark thickness was 2.9 ± 2.1 mm. Heartwood percentage was 89 ± 3 and the logs had sawn wood recovery of 54%. Most of the wood physical and anatomical properties varied along the radial directions from pith to periphery. Physico-mechanical properties were correlated with anatomical properties. Most of the wood quality parameters were comparable to teak. Hence, the species has tremendous potential for afforestation in the state. As wood physical, anatomical and mechanical properties of a timber species determine quality; its evaluation is a prerequisite for the establishment of commercial plantations of this species having high potential for various end uses.

References

  1. Lamb F.B., Mahogany of tropical America: its ecology andmanagement, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, University ofMichigan Press, 220 (1966)
  2. Mayhew J.E. and Newton A.C., The silviculture ofmahogany, Wallingford, UK, CABI Publishing, 226 (1998)
  3. Grogan J., Barreto P. and Verissimo A., Mahogany in theBrazilian Amazon: ecology and perspectives onmanagement, Belem, Brazil, AMAZON (2002)
  4. Blundell A.G. and Rodan B.D., Mahogany and CITES:moving beyond the veneer of legality, Oryx, 37(1), 85-90(2003)
  5. Kammesheidt L., Lezama T.A., Franco W. and PonczakM., History of logging and silvicultural treatments in thewestern Venezuelan plain forests and the prospects forsustainable forest management, Forest Ecology andManagement, 148, 1-20 (2001)
  6. Uetimane J.E. and Ali A.H., Relationship betweenmechanical properties and selected anatomical features ofntholo (Pseudolachnostylis maprounaefolia), Journal ofTropical Forest Science, 23, 166-176 (2011)
  7. Ishiguri F., Hiraiwa T., Iizuka K., Yokota S., Priadi D.,Sumiasri N. and Yoshizawa N., Radial variation ofanatomical characteristics in Paraserianthes falcatariaplanted in Indonesia, IAWA Journal, 30(3), 343–352(2009)
  8. Ishiguri F., Wahyudi I., Takeuchi M., Takashima Y., IizukaK., Yokota S. and Yoshizawa N., Wood properties ofPericopsis mooniana grown in a plantation in Indonesia, Wood Science, 57, 241–246 (2011)
  9. Sekhar A.C. Ranganathan V., Bakshi B.K., Purshotham A.,Krishnamoorthy A. and Sekhar A.C. (eds.),, Physical properties of Indian timbers In: Hand book onIndian Woods and Wood panels: Solid Woods, OxfordUniversity Press, Delhi, 70-83 (1988)
  10. Limaye V.D., Properties of wood grown in India, Indian Forest Records, 18(10), 1-70 (1933)
  11. Bhat K.M., Properties of selected lesser known tropicalhardwoods, Journal of Indian Academy of Wood Science,16(1), 26-35 (1985)
  12. Haslett A.N. and Young G.D., Plantation grown tropicaltimbers, Wood property and processing evaluationprocedures to improve usage, Journal of Tropical ForestScience, 3(2),131-139 (1990)
  13. Ferreira M., Variation of wood basic density in commercialplantations of Eucalyptus grandis at ages of 11, 12, 13, 14and 16 years, IPEF, 4, 65-75 (1972)
  14. Wilkes J., The influence of rate of growth on density andheartwood extractives content of eucalypt species, WoodScience and Technology, 18, 113–120 (1984)
  15. Valente C.A., de Sousa A.M., Furtado F.P. and de CarvalhoA.P., Improvement program for Eucalyptus globulus atPORTUCEL: Technological component, Appita, 45, 403–407 (1992)
  16. Okuma M., Wood utilization in the 21st century, WoodIndustry, 52, 98-103 (1998)
  17. Shanavas A. and Kumar B.M., Physical and mechanicalproperties of three agroforestry tree species from Kerala, India, Journal of Tropical Agriculture, 44, 23-30 (2006)
  18. Carlquist S., Wood anatomy of Compositae: A summary,with comments on factors controlling wood evolution, Aliso, 6, 25-44 (1966)
  19. Bhat K.M., Bhat K.V. and Dhamodaran T.K., Fibre lengthvariation in stem and branches of eleven tropicalhardwoods, IAWA Bulletin, 10, 63–70 (1989)
  20. Izekor D.N. and Fuwape J.A., Variations in the anatomicalcharacteristics of plantation grown Tectona grandis woodin Edo State, Nigeria, Archives of Applied ScienceResearch, 3(1), 83-90 (2011)
  21. Abruzzia C.R., Dedavida A.B., Piresb J.R.M. and SuzanaF.F., Relationship between density and anatomical structureof different species of Eucalyptus and Identification ofpreservatives, Mate Res, doi.org/10.1590/S1516-14392013005000148 (2013)
  22. Wahab R., Mustafa T.M., Amini M. and Rasat M.S.M.2013, Anatomy and strength properties between tropicalbamboo Gigantochloa levis and G. Scortechinii, In: 2ndInternational Conference on Kenaf and Allied Fibres 2013(ICKAF 2013). 3rd–5th December 2013, Selangor,Malaysia (2013)
  23. Sharma S.K., Rao R.V., Shukla S.R., Kumar P.,Sudheendra R., Sujatha M. and Dubey Y.M., Wood qualityof coppiced Eucalyptus tereticornis for value addition, IAWA Journal, 26, 137-147 (2005)
  24. Barnett J.R. and Jeronimidis G., Wood quality and itsbiological basis, Blackwell, Oxford (2003)
  25. Zhang S.Y., Wood specific gravity-mechanical relationshipat species level, Wood Science and Technology, 31, 181-191 (1997)
  26. Zhang S.Y., Structure-property relationship of wood inEast- Liaoning oak, Wood Science and Technology, 26,139-149 (1992)