BASIC DENSITY OF WOOD OF <em>PINUS</em> <em>CARIBAEA</em> GROWN IN ZANZIBAR, UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

Abstract

The basic density and its variation in 12-yold Pinus caribaea grown in Masingini Forest Reserve, Zanzibar was investigated. Increment cores were extracted at breast height from 30 defect-free dominant and codominant trees. Basic density was calculated by dividing oven dry weight by saturated volume obtained by the water displacement method. The main results were: (i) Mean basic density for 12-y-old P. caribaea grown at Masingini Forest Reserve was 460 kg m^-3 with a standard deviation of 66 kg m^-3; (ii) Between tree basic density varied from a minimum of 345 kg m^-3 to a maximum of 637 kg m^-3; (iii) Generally, basic density increased from pith to bark. The increase from inner to middle core was slight while the increase from middle to outer core was sharp; (iv) Growth rate had no significant effect on tree basic density.