Radial Variation of Wood Density in <i>Pinus kesiya</i> Royle ex Gordon

Abstract

The present study was carried out at breast-height cross-sectional discs collected from pine forest of Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya. The aims of the study were (a) to determine wood density variations from pith to bark and (b) to see the relationship of wood density with age, distance from pith, ring width and growth rate by using simple linear and multiple linear regression models. It was observed that wood density increased irregularly from pith to bark. Age and distance from pith exhibited positive and highly significant relationship with wood density for all trees and pooled data whereas ring width and growth rate were negatively and significantly related with wood density The multiple linear regression model obtained with these variables indicated that both age and ring width are the best predictors of wood density