Evaluation of pulp wood quality of selected tropical pines raised in the high ranges of Idukki District, Kerala
Keywords:
Pinus caribaea, Pinus patula and Pinus oocarpa, Pulp wood properties, Lignin and cellulose contentAbstract
The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the pulp wood quality of selected tropical pines viz, Pinus caribaea Morelet, P. patula Schldl. et Cham. and P. oocarpa Schiede, grown in research trials of the Kerala Forest Department. The research plots were located in the humid tropical high ranges of Idukki district of Kerala The objective was to evaluate their wood quality as well as their potential for pulp and paper manufacture based on the wood physical, chemical and anatomical properties including fibre properties and derived fibre ratios. Increment core samples were collected at breast height from trees selected at random from plots of each species belonging to different age classes. These samples were subjected to intensive wood property analysis to find out radial variation (pith, middle, and periphery), species variation and influence of age on different wood properties. The study revealed that Pinus caribaea performed better within the accepted range suitable for pulp and paper making properties for specific gravity, tracheid morphology and fibre ratios.P. patula and P. oocarpa also were also found to be promising species for pulp and paper with better derived fibre ratios. However, in terms of chemical composition,P. oocarpahad an edge over other species with higher cellulose and lower lignin contents.Downloads
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