Variation in wood color among natural populations of five tree and shrub species in the Sahelian and Sudanian ecozones of Mali

Abstract

There is very little published information about variation in the wood properties of African tree species. To expand markets for wood products from these species, we must understand the factors that affect wood properties, and select the best species and sites to produce wood with the preferred properties. Wood color may be affected by edaphic and climatic conditions, tree age, wood density, and other biological and environmental factors. The major objective of this research was to determine if the mean and variability of wood color variables (L*, a*, and b*) of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile, Combretum glutinosum Perr. ex DC., Guiera senegalensis J.F. Gmel., Piliostigma reticulatum (DC.) Hochst., and Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. trees varied among regions, soil types, land-use types, and terrain types; and were linearly related with geographical coordinates and mean annual rainfall in the Sahelian and Sudanian ecozones of Mali. Correlations were also investigated among color variables and between wood density and color variables. Results indicated that there was considerable intraspecific variation in wood color variables due to all factors except land-use type; variation patterns were similar for some wood color variables and species, but there were notable differences among some species; and correlations among wood color variables and wood density differed among some species.

Influence of soil properties on the heartwood colour of Juglans mandshurica var. sachalinensis in a cool temperate forest

“…In total, 17 mature individuals were sampled. The number of intraspecific individual replications was comparable to Montes et al [4]. The average diameter at breast height (DBH) was 45 cm.…”

“…3 Hokkaido Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 7 Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 062-8516, Japan. 4 Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan. 5 Division of Industrial Promotion, Town Office of Nakagawa Town, Nakagawa, Hokkaido 098-2802, Japan.…”

“…On the other hand, even within the same species, wood colour can differ [2], making the economic value of the wood markedly different (e.g., the heartwood colour of birch in Japan, [3]). Previous studies have revealed that environmental factors such as soil properties are important in determining wood colour [2,4]. For instance, in Costa Rican plantations across the country, the wood colour of Tectona grandis varies with soil type and coincidental difference of chemical properties; pH; and calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe) contents [2].…”

“…For instance, in Costa Rican plantations across the country, the wood colour of Tectona grandis varies with soil type and coincidental difference of chemical properties; pH; and calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe) contents [2]. For five tree species in Mali, soil type is an important factor, driving the intraspecific variation in wood colour (especially redness and yellowness) across the nation [4]. For Juglans nigra in the USA, the luminance of wood differs between two states due to differences in soil properties [5].…”

Variation in fuelwood properties and correlations of fuelwood properties with wood density and growth in five tree and shrub species in Niger

“…Some effects of geographical coordinates and mean annual rainfall on fuelwood properties differed among species. This is expected based on studies of variation in wood properties in natural populations (Sotelo Montes et al 2013, 2014, 2016. As others have noted, any environmental factor that affects tree growth may also affect wood properties and correlations between growth and wood properties, and different species and trees within species respond differently to environmental factors (Zobel and van Buijtenen 1989).…”