Growth characteristics and wood properties of 26-year-old<i>Eucalyptus alba</i>planted in Indonesia

Abstract

Growth characteristics and wood properties were investigated for 26-year-old Eucalyptus alba trees grown in Ambon, Indonesia. The mean stem diameter and tree height were 27·9 cm and 19·5 m, respectively. In addition, the mean stress-wave velocity (SWV) of trees and basic density (BD) of outer wood (2 cm from the bark) were 3·23 km s− 1 and 0·67 g cm− 3, respectively. The mean BD of outer wood was almost the same in fast-growing and medium-growing trees. No significant correlations were found between stem diameter and SWV of trees and BD of outer wood. Based on the results, trees with faster-growing characteristics of E. alba do not always have the lower wood properties. Radial profiles in relation to relative distance from pith to bark were almost the same among three growth categories, suggesting that xylem maturation in E. alba might depend on cambial age.