The aim to evaluate the raw material (agroforestry residues) for particleboard manufacture from the: pseudostem of Musa paradisiaca; the stem and pods of Theobroma cacao; and the sawdust of Ceiba pentandra. The particleboards produced from these cellulosic residues are mixed with cassava starch's natural adhesive and urea formaldehyde's synthetic adhesive. The results indicate that lignin, α-cellulose, hemicellulose, and extractives ranged from 6.2-19.0%, 41.4-50.2%, 24.4-31.5%, and 6.8-18.8% respectively and they were significantly different from each other. Additionally, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, phenols, glycosides, and sterols were the phytochemicals present in biomass materials in different quantities. Also, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and boron were the elementals significantly present in the manufactured particleboards in the range of 35.3-52.8, 30.2-43.0, 4.2-24.0, and 3.2-9.9 percentage concentration respectively. As for the mechanical properties, it was verified that the cellulose content influenced 96.5% of the variability of the modulus of rupture (MOR) values. Understanding the distribution, functional properties, and impact of biomass organic, phytochemicals and elemental constitutions is an impetus to the improvement of processes with higher retention of these constitutions in the utilization of agroforest residues in the particleboard industry. These chemical compositions of the residues under study contributed largely to the characteristics of the manufactured particleboards.

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This study sought to determine selected anatomical properties of young Eucalyptus hybrid species (E. grandis x E. urophylla) grown in Ghana. Images of fibres from macerated wood, and micro–sections produced with microtome were analysed using a compound digital microscope associated with Motic Image Plus Software (MIPS), version 2.0, installed on a computer. Images were initially processed using ImageJ software. Study data were analysed using an R statistical package. The overall mean value for fibre length was 907.67 µm, whereas double fibre wall thickness was 7.76 µm. Both variables had higher mean values in sapwood than in heartwood. Nevertheless, the found values decreased from the butt to the top portion. Statistically, axial and radial positions had no influence on fibre characteristics. In a 1 mm2 of the cross-section, the proportion of fibres was 38%, vessels were 19%, axial parenchyma were 22%, and radial parenchyma were 21% on average. Again, the radial and axial positions had no statistical influence on tissue proportion traits for the young eucalyptus wood. Mean value for vessel area was 9462.04 µm2 , whereas vessel frequency per mm2 was about 14. Vessels were significantly larger in area (range 9982.50 – 13544.41 µm2 ), yet reduced in frequency (range 6 – 17 per mm2 ) for sapwood. In heartwood, vessel area was comparatively smaller (range 6321.15 – 7816.69 µm2 ), whereas their frequency was high (range 15 – 18 vessels per mm2 ). Axial and radial position had statistical influence on vessel frequency and area for the young Eucalyptus grown in a plantation in Ghana.

This paper studied the basic density and mechanical properties differences of wood among and within Sclerocarya birrea and Anogeissus leiocarpus. Three trees from each species were selected from the Lagawa Natural Forest Reserve in Western Kordofan State, Sudan. Test specimens were selected from three vertical positions (10, 50, and 90% along the bole length) of the trees. Specimens were also collected from three horizontal positions (innerwood, middlewood, and outerwood) within each of the three vertical positions. Tests for basic density of wood (BD), modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), compressive (CS), and shear strength (SS) parallel to the grain were performed. An analysis of variance shows that only the horizontal positions were a significant source of variation for both species studied. The correlation coefficient of BD was significant, weak, and positive for the mechanical properties of A. leiocarpus. A similar observation was found for BD correlated with CS and SS for S. birrea.