Properties and Utilization of Young-age Yemane (Gmelina arborea Roxb.) for Lumber Production
Marina A. Alipon*, Elvina O. Bondad, Pablito L. Alcachupas, and Emelyne C. Cortiguerra
Forest Products Research and Development Institute
Department of Science and Technology
College, Laguna 4031 Philippines
*Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
This paper presents the lumber recovery and lumber grade yields; strength properties, namely modulus of rupture, stress at proportional limit, and modulus of elasticity in static bending; compression parallel and perpendicular-to-grain; shear; hardness; and toughness, including the cost-benefits, of 4-, 6- and 8-year old yemane (Gmelina arborea Roxb.) for lumber production. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of age and sites on these properties, recommend its end-uses, and evaluate the cost-benefits of converting the species at different ages for lumber production. The experimental materials consisted of three trees each from three sites in Caraga Region, Philippines, namely: Pating-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur (Site 1); Nong-nong, Butuan City (Site 2); and Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte (Site 3). Standard procedures for testing the abovementioned properties were followed. In the absence of lumber grading rules for industrial tree plantation species, individual boards were graded in green condition based on the U.S. National Hardwood Lumber Association standards. On the average, the 8-year old trees obtained the highest average percent lumber recovery with 55.78%, 56%, and 54.89% for Site 1, Site 2, and Site 3, respectively. The trend of lumber recovery among sites also held true, with the 4- and 6-year old trees with values of 52% and 53.67% for Site 1, 51% and 53.33% for Site 2, and 51% and 52.11% for Site 3. Generally, the mechanical properties of 4-, 6-, and 8-year olds fell under moderately low (Class IV). All indicators show the viability of processing yemane from different diameters, ranging from 16.29 cm to 20.64 cm, belonging under 6- and 8-year-olds.
INTRODUCTION
Yemane is among the fast-growing industrial tree plantation species (ITPS) currently being used as an alternative to fast depleting premium and commercially used timber species. One of the many advantages of yemane over other fast growing species is its capacity to quickly produce coppices of more than five stems, which can be thinned by choice and which can provide quick soil cover after cutting (Perino 2003). Of the total 56,556 m3 yemane log production in the country, Region VIII has the highest log production with 15,807 m3 (28%) followed by Caraga with 12,679 m3 (22%) (FMB 2017). The National Greening Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) intercropped yemane with agricultural and fruit trees as raw material source for furniture production . . . . . read more
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