THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS AND SOME WOOD PROPERTIES OF ACACIA MANGIUM PLANTED IN QUANG TRI, VIETNAM

Abstract

The relationships between growth characteristics and wood quality has always been of interest to forest growers as well as wood processors, especially in fast-growing species. This study was conducted to examine the correlation between growth indexes and some wood properties in Acacia mangium including air-dry density (AD), modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), and compressive strength (CS). The results of the present study showed that diameter at breast height had a high positive significant correlation (r = 0.99; P < 0.001) with stem volume. In contrast, no significant relationship was found between tree height and stem volume. Weak cofficients of corrleration and no statistic significance (P > 0.05) were found between growth indexes with AD, MOR, MOE, and CS. The results suggests that Acacia mangium trees with faster gowth characteristics do not always produce wood of lower quality.