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Mechanical properties and wood structure characteristics of 35-year old home-garden teak from wet and dry localities of Kerala, India in comparison with plantation teak

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Abstract

Mechanical properties of teak wood grown in home-garden forestry and the anatomical factors influencing timber strength were investigated in comparison with that of a typical forest plantation. No significant differences were observed in modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture with respect to wet, dry and plantation sites and the values are moderate compared with the standard teak. Where as, dry site home-garden teak exhibited higher compressive strength (MCS) parallel to grain (60.6 N/mm2) and differed significantly between wet and plantation sites (P ≤ 0.05). The higher MCS value was correlated with higher air-dry density (691 kg/m3) recorded coupled with thick fibre wall and smaller fibre lumen as elucidated by anatomical study. The microfibrillar angle also showed non-significant difference between the three localities (P = 0.05) and the value 12.5° was quite small to affect the timber strength adversely in its utilisation potential. The results of the present study revealed that farmer’s choice to fell homestead teak at short-rotation of 35-years is in no way affect the wood quality attributes such as density and strength.

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Acknowledgments

This study formed part of a research project funded by the Kerala Forest Department, Government of Kerala. We are grateful to Dr. K. V. Sankaran, Director, Kerala Forest Research Institute for constant encouragement and support. Our sincere thanks are due to the Kerala Forest Department staff of Karulai Forest Range, Nilambur for making available the plantation teak logs. We thank Dr. P. Rugmini, Head, Statistics Department for the analysis of the data. The technical help rendered by Mr. K. K. Suresh, Wood Science and Technology laboratory is gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Division of Wood Science & Technology, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, 680 653, Kerala, India

    P. K. Thulasidas & K. M. Bhat

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  1. P. K. Thulasidas
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  2. K. M. Bhat
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Correspondence to P. K. Thulasidas.

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Thulasidas, P.K., Bhat, K.M. Mechanical properties and wood structure characteristics of 35-year old home-garden teak from wet and dry localities of Kerala, India in comparison with plantation teak. J Indian Acad Wood Sci 9, 23–32 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13196-012-0062-7

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