Wood Properties of 38-year-old Cariniana legalis (Mart.) Kuntze Based on Planting Spacing

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the properties of 38-year-old Cariniana legalis wood from trees planted with three spacings between trees: 3 × 2.5, 3 × 2, and 3 × 1.5 m. Five trees were collected from each tree spacing. Discs were collected from the trunk base of each tree and at 2.5 and 5.0 m. The vessel diameter was significantly wider for a spacing of 3 x 2.5 m compared to that of 3 x 1.5 m. Basic density, apparent density, volumetric shrinkage, and natural moisture content were influenced by longitudinal position. However, fiber length and fiber wall thickness showed no significant differences. Basic density and natural moisture content were inversely proportional. Our study shows that the anatomical features of C. legalis wood were more sensitive to variations in tree spacing than its physical properties.

Keywords

• axial variation
• tree density
• moisture content
• wood anatomy
• wood density