International Science Community Association Research Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences 2320 - 6063 1 6 2013 July 8 Dimensional Relations and Physical Properties of Wood of Acacia saligna, an invasive tree species growing in Botswana 12 15 EN Radha R 1 Department of Zoology, PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, INDIA V. Saravanan 1 Dept. of Tree Breeding, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam 641301, TN, INDIA K.T. Parthiban 2 Dept. of Tree Breeding, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam 641301, TN, INDIA P. Kumar 3 Dept. of Tree Breeding, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam 641301, TN, INDIA P.V. Anbu 4 Dept. of Tree Breeding, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam 641301, TN, INDIA Ganesh Pandian P. 5 Dept. of Tree Breeding, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam 641301, TN, INDIA Mmolotsi Ronnie M. 1 Department of Crop Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, BOTSWANA Chisupo Orapeleng 2 Department of Crop Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, BOTSWANA Mojeremane Witness 3 Department of Crop Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, BOTSWANA Rampart Melusi 4 Department of Crop Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, BOTSWANA Kopong Ishmael 5 Department of Crop Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, BOTSWANA Monekwe David 6 Department of Crop Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, BOTSWANA > Research Paper 2013 6 21 2013 July 8 A study was carried out to eva luate wood physical properties of Acacia saligna, an invasive alien species that has naturalized in Botswana. Wood samples were collected from three different trees at three different heights to study the properties. The trees showed relative change in dia meter, density, moisture content and bark thickness. This study revealed that there was a significant change in diameter, bark thickness, proportion of the heartwood and no significant differences i n wood basic density at different heights. The density of wood was average at 637 kg m - 3 . Moisture content was highest in samples collected from the top end of the stem with no significant differences between the base and the mid - height. The average moisture content of wood was 45.1%. The results showed a strong relationship between tree diameter (r 2 = 0.9964) and bark thickness (r 2 = 0.9974) at three different heights in the tree stem. Copyright@ International Science Community Association