Tree dimension and environmental correlates of heartwood content in Siamese rosewood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis)

Abstract

Abstract. Meunpong P, Penboon C, Kuasakun N, Wachrinrat C. 2021. Tree dimension and environmental correlates of heartwood content in Siamese rosewood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis). Biodiversitas 22: 3297-3303. Siamese rosewood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis) is considered amongst the prime timber varieties in high demand with the wood fetching high prices in the international timber market. Therefore, illegal logging and smuggling of Siamese rosewood from natural forests poses a severe problem in Thailand. Heartwood and its content is the most valuable part of Siamese rosewood, which in practice, cannot be measured directly in living trees. Hence, we investigated the relationship between the heartwood content of Siamese rosewood, and tree dimension and environmental characteristics across eleven plantations throughout Thailand construct a model for predicting the heartwood content using specific environmental variables. The results indicate that there were differences in the mean annual increment of all measurement parameters (d0, d30, dbh, and total height of a tree) across eleven plantations studied. However, we did not find any statistically significant differences between the increments in heartwood diameter. Furthermore, we found that suitable location for Siamese rosewood plantation could result in doubling of growth rate. We report that dbh was the most relevant variable and could be used as a predictor for heartwood content. In terms of environmental variables, soil properties at top layer that affect the heartwood content were particle density, organic matter, and silt particles. Using the resulted equation formulated in this study may be useful when planning areas for suitable plantations of Siamese rosewood in Thailand.

A Review of the Factors Influencing Variations in the Heartwood Proportion for Solid Wood

“…color difference between the two zones of the xylem, the selection of wood components based on color also plays an important role in some applications (Pinto et al 2004). Meunpong et al (2021) revealed that differences in humidity, wind exposure, climate area, elevation, and aspect are closely associated with the width of heartwood. Silvicultural practices can also affect its formation and quality, for example, proper thinning and fertilization promote stem growth, which accelerates the formation (Yang et al 2020).…”

“…Heartwood, sapwood, heartwood formation, positive and negative impacts of heartwood 6 Meunpong et al 2021, Pande 2013, Pinto et al 2004, Piqueras et al 2020, Taylor et al 2002, Yang et al 2020 Within tree variation 24 Bamber 1976, Björklund 1999, Brix and Mitchell 1983, Climent et al 1993, Fernandez-Solis et al 2018, Gominho et al 2001, Gominho and Pereira 2000, 2005, Hillis 1987, Knapic et al 2006, Knapic and Pereira 2005, Miranda et al 2006, Morais and Pereira 2007, Moya et al 2014, Pinto et al 2003, Rink and Phelps 1989, Sellin 1994, 1996, Stokes and Berthier 2000, Wilkins 1991, Wilkes 1991, Yang and Murchison 1992 Among tree variation 31 Anish et al 2015, Anoop et al 2014, Bamber 1976, Bamber and Fukazawa 1985, Bhat 1995, Bradbury et al 2005, 2011, Climent et al 2002, Fernandez-Solis et al 2018, Gominho et al 2001, Gominho and Pereira 2000, 2005, Hillis 1987, 1987…”

Coeficiente mórfico de Apuleia leiocarpa (Vogel) J.F. Macbr. por tipo de bosque, Amazonía peruana

“…El duramen determina el valor económico de la madera, y la albura está estrechamente relacionada con las funciones fisiológicas de los árboles (Meunpong et al, 2021), por lo tanto, será importante para el aprovechamiento forestal realizar estimaciones del espesor de duramen a partir de variables de fácil medición como el DAP (Yang et al, 2020). En el presente estudio, el espesor de duramen (ED) estuvo directamente relacionado con el DAP, por lo que los modelos generados podrían utilizarse para efectuar estimaciones del ED.…”