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End-use heartwood combined Lesser-Utilized Species Rubiaceae Tiliaceae Within-stem density
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Within-stem denstiy variations of two lesser-utilized timbers and their related primary species
Abstract
Wood density often influences its quality, marketability and end-use. This paper provides information, for the first time, on the density variation within the stems of two members each of the Rubiaceae and the Tiliaceae from Ghana. From each family, the density at each stem position of a traditional species is compared with that of a related Lesser-Utilized Species (LUS). Density is determined
using conditioned weight of each block at 20oC and 65%rh and its volume measured using a digital micrometer. Densities ranging from 720-820kg/m3 for Corynanthe pachyceras Welw., and 660
-720kg/m3 for Nauclea diderrichii (de Wild.) Merr. (members of the Rubiaceae) were measured. Densities for the two members of the Tiliaceae are lower and range from 295-400kg/m3 for Glyphaea
brevis (Sprengel) Monachino and 640-700kg/m3 for Nesogordonia papaverifera (A. Chev.) R. Capuron. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is employed to examine differences in densities from different
radial and axial stem positions as well as growth sites for the two (2) LUS. Results have shown that variations in density within the stems exist with density increasing generally from the outer sapwood
to the inner heartwood. However, the trend is sometimes not clear for members of the Tiliaceae (G. brevis and N. papaverifera). It also varies along the stems of the four timbers often decreasing with height from the base to the crown. However, few irregularities also occur along the stems of the LUS. Moreover, this study has shown that growth site influences the within-stem densities of the LUS.
using conditioned weight of each block at 20oC and 65%rh and its volume measured using a digital micrometer. Densities ranging from 720-820kg/m3 for Corynanthe pachyceras Welw., and 660
-720kg/m3 for Nauclea diderrichii (de Wild.) Merr. (members of the Rubiaceae) were measured. Densities for the two members of the Tiliaceae are lower and range from 295-400kg/m3 for Glyphaea
brevis (Sprengel) Monachino and 640-700kg/m3 for Nesogordonia papaverifera (A. Chev.) R. Capuron. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is employed to examine differences in densities from different
radial and axial stem positions as well as growth sites for the two (2) LUS. Results have shown that variations in density within the stems exist with density increasing generally from the outer sapwood
to the inner heartwood. However, the trend is sometimes not clear for members of the Tiliaceae (G. brevis and N. papaverifera). It also varies along the stems of the four timbers often decreasing with height from the base to the crown. However, few irregularities also occur along the stems of the LUS. Moreover, this study has shown that growth site influences the within-stem densities of the LUS.
