Abstract
Dehane, B. 2019. Characterization of cork growth and quality from the cork oak stands of North-West Algeria (Oranie). Ecosistemas 28(1): 97-105 Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.1617 Cork growth and quality were characterized in eight cork oak stands within the production area of Oranie (North-West, Algeria), based on a field sampling on 30 trees/stand. Cork thickness was on average 26.50 mm, with 44% of the samples in the commercial classes not suitable for production of stoppers. The annual average cork growth for a production cycle with 10 complete growth years was 2.43 mm. For this region, a production cycle of 12 years is not adequate for raw-material industrial requirements. The appearance of cork is characterized by 12 intrinsic and extrinsic defects. The average density of cork is 256.77 kg/m3 and the porosity, measured by image analysis, 4.6%. The quality of cork according to the IPROCOR standards substitutes the thin cork as the most valued product, intended for the manufacture of the washers. This is in conformity with the cork slow growth in this region.
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