UTILISATION OF <em>STYRAX</em> <em>TONKINENSIS</em> WOOD IN LAOS AND ITS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Abstract

The study investigated the physical characteristics of Styrax tonkinensis trees in Laos, used for benzoin tapping and subsequently abandoned, as timber for building materials. The study consisted of a multidisciplinary approach. First, a survey was conducted on tree species currently used as building materials at a site where villagers cultivated S. tonkinensis for shiftingcultivation-cycle agriculture. Second, the physical properties of S. tonkinensis were analysed, namely, dry density, tensile elasticity, dimensional changes due to boiling and drying and microfibril angle (MFA). The survey demonstrated the possibility of using S. tonkinensis as timber. The wood of S. tonkinensis was intermediate to other timber species in terms of material properties. Growth stress and physical properties indicated that S. tonkinensis formed tension wood in its inclined stem, thus the timber should be processed carefully. The results suggested that there was potential to expand the focus of S. tonkinensis cultivation to include building material use, contributing towards sustainable agroforestry.