CHARACTERIZATION OF Acrocarpus fraxinifolius Wight & Arn. POPULATIONS BASED ON GROWTH AND WOOD TRAITS
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Date
2020-08-16
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Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University Agricultural and Horticultural Science (COF,PONNAMPET)
Abstract
Acrocarpus fraxinifolius is large tree belongs to sub-family Caesalpinioideae under family Fabaceae. The timber of this species is suitable for making plywood, planks and construction purpose with its various multi-purpose services such as erosion control, fodder, gum, fuelwood, etc. It is mostly cultivated in high rainfall areas as a shade-tree in coffee agroforestry. The study was conducted to assess the variation in growth and wood trait among different populations in Southern Karnataka. Nine populations viz., Shreemangala, Shuntikoppa, Bhagamandala, Chikamagaluru, Mudigere, Balehonnuru, Sakleshpura, Totadagadde and Vanaguru, from three districts (Kodagu, Chikamagaluru, Hassan) were considered for the present study. The growth traits such as tree height, clear bole height, GBH and wood traits viz., bark-thickness, wood density, specific gravity, fibre parameters and vessel parameters were analysed to know the extent of variation across the populations. Among the growth traits, tree height and clear bole height were varied significantly, whereas GBH was not significant. The average height of trees varied from 19.99 m to 26.14 m. Maximum mean GBH was recorded from Shuntikoppa population (1.40 m). The basic wood density of species was ranged between 0.370 g cc-1 to 0.580 g cc1. Value for most of the wood traits increased from near to pith to the periphery. It was observed that there is a significant difference in fibre length across the populations. The average fibre length observed was 1225.49 um. Fibre width, fibre lumen width and fibre wall thickness have not shown much variation. Vessel parameters varied among the populations. Vessel length varied from 104.78 μm to 124.71 μm. Anatomical indices such as slenderness ratio, Runkel ratio, flexibility coefficient and rigidity coefficient were calculated to know the suitability of species as raw materials for pulp and paper. The wood anatomy screening of Acrocarpus fraxinifolius envisages that the species could be best suitable as raw material for pulp and paper production.