Effect of growth on wood traits in seed-raised plantations of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.

Abstract

We studied the effect of growth on wood anatomical dimensions and specific gravity of seed-raised plantation wood of Dalbergia sissoo with twelve trees of different diameters and similar ages. Fiber length ranged from 925 to 1,287 μm, fiber-diameter was 19–23 μm, wall thickness was 4.2–5.4 μm, vessel-element-length was 152–188 μm, vessel-element-diameter was 152–200 μm, and specific gravity was 0.59–0.72. Growth parameters including tree height, diameter at breast height, net primary productivity and net ecosystem productivity were significantly and positively correlated. Growth parameters showed non-significant positive relationships with fiber-length, fiber diameter, wall thickness, vessel element length, and vessel element diameter. The trend of wood traits increased with growth. Specific gravity showed non-significant negative relationships with growth parameters. Although the growth rate had varied relationships with wood properties, as reported by various workers, the wood element dimensions showed no significant relationship with growth parameters and there was little effect of growth rate on wood traits in seed-raised plantation of D. sissoo.