By: OGUNLEYE B. M.; FUWAPE J. A.; FABIYI J. S.;
Abstract:
Variations in the wood density of Ricinodedron heudelotii were investigated. The wood samples were collected from innerwood, middlewood and outerwood at 10, 50 and 90% of the merchantable tree height. Wood density was determined on oven-dry basis. The data obtained were subjected to a analysis to determine the level of variability in the vertical and radial position. Density of R. heudelotii ranged from 0.23 g/cm3 at 50% to 0.30 g/cm3 at 90% merchantable height, with mean density of 0.26 g/cm3. Along the sampling heights, density increased from base to top and decreased from the outer wood to core wood radially. However, the results of the analysis of variance (from split-split plot design) showed that there were significant differences among the three selected trees (p<0.05).The interaction among the selected trees and the radial position, longitudinal and radial position as well as interaction among trees, longitudinal and radial positions were also significantly different.
Keywords: wood density, variation, pulping properties, Ricinodedron heudelotii
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