Wood density variation in four plantation species growing in Bangladesh

Abstract

Wood density is a unique integrator of strength properties and life-history traits of trees, and has importance in carbon estimation. It varies vertically and radially within individual tree in tropical species. The aim of this study was to determine whether wood density variations were dependent on tree diameter or age by comparing trees of same age but with different diameters for four important plantation species, such as Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss., Dipterocarpus turbinatus Gaertn., Michelia champaca L. and Syzygium grande (Wright) Walp. in Bangladesh. Twenty trees were selected for coring in each species and wood density was measured at 1 cm interval from pith to bark. Steeper regression slopes in small diameter trees and absence of significant relationship between outer wood density and tree diameter imply age-dependent wood density variation in C. tabularis and M. champaca. Conversely, the diameter-dependent wood density was found in S. grande. Steeper regression slopes in small diameter trees and slightly higher outer wood density in large diameter trees suggesting mixed response of both age and diameter in D. turbinatus. Therefore, wood density variation in plantations species is influenced not only by tree age but also diameter, or both which has implications in plantation management and biomass estimation in the tropics.