EFFECT OF RADIAL GROWTH RATE ON WOOD PROPERTIES OF <em>NEOLAMARCKIA</em> <em>CADAMBA</em>

Abstract

The effect of radial growth rate on anatomical characteristics and wood properties were examined in 4-yearold Neolamarckia cadamba. A total of 63 standing trees were categorised into three groups (slow, middle and fast growth) according to their stem diameter. Mean values of stem diameter, tree height and stress-wave velocity were 15.0 cm, 13.4 m and 2.99 km s^-1 respectively. No significant correlations were found between growth characteristics and stress-wave velocity of stems. In addition, dynamic Young’s modulus of the logs differed between trees with common radial growth rate. Mean values of fibre length, diameter and wall thickness, and vessel element length, diameter and frequency were 1.52 mm, 26.9 and 1.8 μm, and 0.72 mm, 156 μm and 7.4 vessels mm^-2 respectively. Mean values of basic density and compressive strength were 0.30 g cm-3 and 15.5 MPa respectively. No significant differences in almost all anatomical characteristics and wood properties were recognised between the three categories, suggesting that these characteristics were independent of radial growth rate.