Laxmi Chauhan , Sangeeta Gupta , R. C. Madhwal , Rajiv Pandey

Abstract

The results of a study on the effect of spacing on wood specific gravity, selected wood anatomical parameters and tree growth in two 9-10 year old plantations of 3 clones of Populus deltoides are reported. Significant effect of spacing was observed on specific gravity, fibre length, fibre diameter, vessel diameter, tree height and girth. While specific gravity shows an increase at wide spacing, fibre length has been found to decrease in the two plantations.

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Laxmi Chauhan , Sangeeta Gupta , R. C. Madhwal , Rajiv Pandey , Mohinder Pal

Abstract

Variation in specific gravity and wood parameters was studied in 10 year old trees of 18 clones of Populus deltoides with promising growth rate. The sample discs were taken out at different heights viz. breast height, 25%, 50% and 75% of merchantable tree height. To study radial variation, each annual ring was sampled. Significant interclonal differences were observed in anatomical parameters and specific gravity while trees, within clones showed no significant effect. The specific gravity was found to be positively correlated with age, fibre length and vessel frequency and negatively related with fibre diameter and lumen diameter. A negative correlation was also observed between specific gravity and ring width. Within a tree, height and position of annual ring from pith had significant effect on fibre length, lumen diameter, vessel frequency and specific gravity. The specific gravity reaches maximum at 50% of tree height and fibre length at 25% of tree height showing decreasing trend upwards. At breast height fibre length and specific gravity increases rapidly pith outwards upto 6th year followed by a slower rate of increase upto 8th year with a tendency to level off from 8th year. Breast height values of specific gravity and fibre length have been found to be highly correlated with whole tree values for these two parameters. For the prediction of whole tree values from breast height values, regression models and multiplication factors have been derived for fibre length and specific gravity.

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