Abstract
In the wake of dwindling timber resources in Ghana, the establishment of plantations has become necessary and the government and industry are actively pursuing this course. Plantations of Khaya ivorensis, which is one of the most valuable wood species, have been established in Ghana. However, concerns have been expressed by industry and stakeholders about the properties of fast-grown plantation trees compared to natural tree stands. It is believed that plantation grown species have relatively inferior wood quality to the trees from the natural stands. Wood properties such as bending strength and stiffness need to be determined to effectively recommend specific end use for the species. The aim of the study was to determine the modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of plantation-grown K. ivorensis and compare with the trees from natural stands. Plantation trees had higher strength values with a characteristic MOR of 67.35 N/mm2 compared to natural trees with a characteristic MOR of 55.27 N/mm2. Results indicated that the properties of plantation trees were not inferior to the trees from the natural forest, and even had relatively higher strength properties. Mahogany plantations are therefore recommended to ensure the sustainable supply of the species to the wood industry.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) for the support through the ITTO sponsored Project “PD 528/08 Rev. (1) F-Towards sustainable indigenous mahogany timber production in Ghana: Refining the silvicultural “toolkit” and practical training for industrial foresters and community farmers”. Many thanks to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) under Fellowship Number 91526298-50015537 for the 6 months doctoral research fellowship award which provided the first author the opportunity to study and conduct part of his study in Germany.
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Appiah-Kubi, E., Kankam, C.K., Frimpong-Mensah, K. et al. The bending strength and modulus of elasticity properties of plantation-grown Khaya ivorensis (African Mahogany) from Ghana. J Indian Acad Wood Sci 13, 48–54 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13196-016-0165-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13196-016-0165-7