Comparative Strength and Related Properties of Yemane (Gmelina arborea Roxb.) Coppice and Planted Stand
Marina A. Alipon and Elvina O. Bondad
Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI)
Department of Science and Technology (DOST), College, Laguna
corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
The strength and related properties of 7- and 3-year-old first and second coppice and 3-year-old planted stand of yemane (Gmelina arborea Roxb.) were studied to generate information that could help tree farmers properly grow, harvest, and utilize yemane timber from a coppice stand. The properties were also compared to secondary data from previously tested yemane planted stands of various ages and localities. Based on FPRDI’s Guidelines for the Improved Utilization and Marketing of Tropical Species, the strength properties of the 7-year-old yemane coppice were generally moderately low (C4) to low (C5) while relative density and shrinkage were moderately low, and moisture content above 100%. The strength properties were lower than those of 5-, 10-, and 15-year-old yemane planted stands. The wood of 7-and 3-year-old yemane first and second coppice, respectively, is recommended for furniture and other moderately light to light construction purposes. The diameter and stem form of the coppice might warrant applications for the recommended end-uses. Hence, finger jointing or gluing may be advisable if wider boards are needed. The strength properties of 3-year-old coppice were comparable to 3-year-old planted stand but the former had higher compression-perpendicular-to-grain and shear than the latter.
INTRODUCTION
Yemane (Gmelina arborea Roxb.) is among the fast growing Industrial Tree Plantation Species (ITPS) currently being used by the wood industry as an alternative source to the diminishing supply of premium and other commercial timbers from the natural-growth forests. One of the many advantages of yemane over the other ITPS is its capacity to quickly produce coppices of more than five stems which can be thinned by choice and which . . . . . . . . . .
REFERENCES
ALIPON MA. 1992. Assessing the utilization of yemane (Gmelina arborea Roxb.) for paper pulp or lumber manufacture. PTEROCARPUS 7(2): 9-24.
[ASTM] American Society For Testing Materials. 1998. Standard methods of testing small clear specimens of timber. ASTM Designation: D143-52. Philadelphia: American Society for Testing Materials. 30p.
DROW JT. 1963. Relationship of locality and rate of growth to density and strength of Douglas-fir. Forest Products Laboratory. US Dept. of Agriculture Forest Service. Madison, Wis. Rpt. No. 2078. 56p.
[FPL] Forest Products Laboratory. 1995. Wood Handbook U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington DC. Agriculture Handbook No. 2. Washington D.C.: United States Department of Agriculture. 30p.
[FORPRIDECOM] FOREST PRODUCTS RESEARCH AND INDUSTRIES DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 1980. Guidelines for the improved utilization and marketing of tropical wood species RP/HQ 1979- RO. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization. 153p.
[FMB] FOREST MANAGEMENT BUREAU. 2005. Philippine Forestry Statistics. Forest Management Bureau. Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City: Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 247p.
LANTICAN CB. 1976. Quality control should start in the woods. Asian Forest Industries Yearbook. p. 23-24: 7374.
LARSON PR. 1957. Effect of environment on the percentage of summerwood and specific gravity of slash pine. Yale School of Forestry Bulletin No. 63. 25p.
PANSHIN AJ, DE ZEEUW C. 1970. Textbook of Wood Technology. Third edition. Volume 1. New York: McGraw-Hill. 705p.
PERINO EA. 2003. Hydrology, wood and carbon production of sequential coppicing of yemane plantation. Second Year Annual Progress Report. Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau (ERDB). College, Laguna: Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau. 60p.
SETTEN GGK. 1973. Yemane (Gmelina arborea Roxb.) Plantations as a short term firewood proposition. Malaysian Foresters. XVI: 165-169.
ZOBEL J. 1961. Inheritance of wood properties in conifers. Silv Genet 10: 65-70.
