Variations in the Fibre Length of Rubber Wood (Hevea Brasiliensis (Kunth) Muel Arg) Grown in South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Variations in the fibre length of rubber wood were investigated to determine suitability of the wood fibres for some industrial utilization. The fibre lengths were sampled according to main effects such as plantations effects, bud classes effects, trees effects, discs effects, cardinal directions effects and ring-blocks (radii) effects to determine variations in composition, based on the fixed effects model of a nested design. Macerated wood samples obtained at parallel positions to the grain were magnified on a visopan microscope and investigated in order of the sampled main effects. The plantations and bud classes effects were not significant (p>0.05), while the trees effects was highly significant (p<0.01). The effects of disc (position along the bole) and ring blocks (radii) were not significant (p> 0.05) on the fibre length composition. The cardinal directions effects was highly significant (p<0.01). The effects of factor interactions on fibre lengths were also investigated but not of practical importance. The mean fibre length value of sample trees was 1.59mm making it suitable for pulp and paper production.