Silviculture conditions and wood properties of Samanea saman and Enterolobium cyclocarpum in 19-year-old mixed plantations

Abstract

Aim of study: The objective of this work is to examine wood properties of a mixed plantation of Samanea saman and Enterolobium cyclocarpum, combined with native species of Costa Rica.Area of study: Mixed plantation in dry tropical zone of Costa Rica.Material and Methods: It was measured by total diameter, heartwood, bark thickness, several physical wood properties (green density, specific gravity, volumetric, tangential and radial shrinkage and moisture content) and wood color.Main results: The largest of this diameter are reached when S. saman is planted with E. cyclocarpum, E. cyclocarpum and Swietenia macrophylla and Simarouba glauca. Meanwhile the largest total diameter and heartwood in E. cyclocarpum was found when this species is planted with Dalbergia retusa. Heartwood percentage, bark percentage, and some physical properties are not affected when S. saman or E. cyclocarpum are planted with other species. However, parameters of wood color were affected mixture plantation of S. saman or E. cyclocarpum with other species. The lowest difference between wood from mixed plantations and wood from trees growing in native forests is produced when S. saman is mixed with E. cyclocarpum, but this last species is mixed with Hymenaea courbaril and produced wood with the lowest difference in wood color compared to trees growing in the natural forest.Research highlights: S. saman and E. cyclocarpum tress planted in a mixed plantation produce variation in breast diameter, physical properties, heartwood percentage and wood color.Keywords: silvicultural condition; wood properties; tropical species; plantation species.

Genetic diversity of Enterolobium cyclocarpum in Colombian seasonally dry tropical forest: implications for conservation and restoration

“…Our finding that suitable areas for the species are not expected to be severely impacted by the negative effects of climate change bodes well for its future use in tree planting projects. While a growing body of knowledge on the sexual and asexual propagation and management of E. cyclocarpum exists (Rodríguez-Sahagún et al 2007;Laborde and Corrales-Ferrayola 2012;Ekamawanti et al 2013;Obando and Moya 2013), limited attention has thus far been given to the genetic quality of planting material. Ensuring that reproductive material of E. cyclocarpum used in tree planting efforts will survive, thrive, and establish viable and resilient populations in the long term requires (1) adequate planning to identify the seed sources that are best matched to the conditions of the planting site and (2) application of good seed collection protocols (Thomas et al 2014(Thomas et al , 2015a.…”

The Impact of Nickel Mining on Soil Properties and Growth of Two Fast-Growing Tropical Trees Species

“…Albizia saman is an important species, a multipurpose tree with potentialities as an alternative feed for animals [14]. It also produces variation in breast diameter, attractive wood color, and physical properties of wood, such as green density and volume shrinkage [15]. Albizia saman has a massive root system with an equally large canopy.…”

Evaluation of wood properties from six native species of forest plantations in Costa Rica

“…For example, Butterfield et al (1993) conducted a study on basic density variation in radial direction, fiber length and vessels area in wood from plantation trees of H. alchorneoides. Recently, Obando and Moya (2013) studied density, specific gravity, shrinkage and color of wood from 19 years-old trees of S. saman and E. cyclocarpum from mixed plantations. For the other species, studies available focus on silvicultural performance, indicating that relevant information is still lacking; specifically about their different properties and performance and quality during sawing, their drying process, preservation, durability and workability.…”