Variation in intrinsic wood properties of Melia azedarach L. planted in northern Vietnam

• Published in: Journal of wood science Vol. 63; no. 6; pp. 560 - 567
• Main Authors: Van Duong, Doan, Missanjo, Edward, Matsumura, Junji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Springer Japan 01-12-2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bark; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Life Sciences; Materials Science; Original Article; Properties (attributes); Specific gravity; Timber (structural); Trees; Wood Science & Technology; Vietnam; Growth ring width; Microfibril angle; Fiber length; Specific gravity
• ISSN: 1435-0211; 1611-4663
• DOI: 10.1007/s10086-017-1652-1

Variations in intrinsic wood properties [growth ring width (GRW), specific gravity (SG), fiber length (FL), and microfibril angle (MFA)] of 17–19-year-old
Melia azedarach
trees grown in two sites in northern Vietnam were investigated for effective utilization of the wood. Five discs were collected at 0.3-, 1.3-, 3.3-, 5.3-, and 7.3-m heights above the ground. The estimated mean GRW, SG, FL, and MFA were 7.44 mm, 0.548, 1.07 mm, and 14.65°, respectively. There were significant (
P
 < 0.05) differences among trees and between sites in SG, FL, and MFA. Longitudinal position significantly (
P
 < 0.05) influenced GRW and SG. Radial position was highly (
P
 < 0.001) significant to all the wood properties and contributed the highest (GRW: 52.58%, SG: 58.49%, FL: 77.83%, and MFA: 26.20%) of the total variations. FL and SG increased from pith to bark, while GRW and MFA decreased from pith to bark. Fiber length increment (FLI) tends to stabilize between 7th and 10th rings. This should be taken into account when processing logs. The results of this study, therefore, provide a basis for determining management strategies appropriate to structural timber production of
M
.
azedarach
plantation trees in northern Vietnam.