EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL SOIL PROPERTIES ON PHYSICAL WOOD CHARACTERISTICS OF <em>TECTONA</em> <em>GRANDIS</em> PLANTATIONS IN COSTA RICA

Abstract

Moya, R. & Pe reZ, D. 2008. Effects of physical and chemical soil properties on physical wood characteristics of Tectona grandis plantations in Costa Rica. A total of 23 plantations with ages between 7 and 15 years were selected in the north and north-west regions of Costa Rica, covering a wide range of soil fertilities. Texture analysis included the determination of clay, silt and sand content, apparent density, water retention percentage, water useful percentage, and retention at 15 and 0.33% bars. Normal tangential shrinkage and normal radial shrinkage were the most correlated variables with soil characteristics, while the less correlated variables were specific gravity and normal volumetric shrinkage. Correlation coefficients were highly significant (a = 0.05) but low (< 0.64), probably influenced by the range of climatic and soil conditions. Soil characteristics (physical and chemical) had no influence on wood properties. A large range of soils in Costa Rica is suitable for growing teak without detrimental effect on certain wood properties.