INFLUENCE OF PLANTATION AGE ON FIBRE CHARACTERISTICS OF Gmelina arborea

ABSTRACT
The study examined the influence of age series on fiber characteristics of Gmelina arborea established in Ondo State Afforestation, Ondo State. Three Gmelina arborea stand of 20, 22 and 27 years old were used for the study. Wood samples were collected from the core wood, inner wood and outer wood at 10%, 50% and 90% of the tree merchantable height in accordance with the standard procedure (British Standard Specification, BS 373 (1989). The study examined the anatomical characteristics of Gmelina arborea wood in respect to their age series such as fibre length, fibre diameter, lumen width and cell wall thickness were evaluated.
The mean fibre length of the age series were 0.9676 mm, 1.0705 mm and 1.1363 mm for 20, 22 and 27 years respectively. The mean fibre diameter 0.0256 mm, 0.0269 mm and 0.0249 mm; mean lumen width 0.0293 mm, 0.0161 mm and 0.0179 mm; mean cell wall 0.0050 mm, 0.0053 mm and 0.00500 mm.