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Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

The Relationship of Anatomical Features to the Permeability of Kaatoan Bangkal (Anthocephalus chinensis Rich Ex Walp)

(Indonesia), Doctor of Philosophy in Wood Science and Technology (University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Dissertation Abstract:

 

Samples from five kaatoan bangkal (Anthocephalus chinensis Rich Ex Walp) trees were collected from the Makiling Experimental and Demonstration Forest at Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines. Disk samples of 10 cm thickness were cut from each tree at 5, 25, 45, and 65 percent of the total height from the ground for measurement of specific gravity, fiber dimensions, vessel dimensions and frequency, gas permeability, and extractive content.

Results showed that the average specific gravity of kaatoan bangkal wood was 0.31 , with a range of 0.2 to 0.5 . Extractive content, with an average of 2.18 percent, was considered low. Vessel diameter was intermediate to large (0 .14 to 0.29 mm), and was visible to the naked eye. The solitary vessel was oval (about 0.21 to 2.01 mm2), mostly in two's (0.99-4.07 mm2) and three's (0.24-3.48 mm2) . The vessel length averaged 0.774 mm, ranging from 0.478 to 0.99 mm. The vessels had simple perforation plates. Parenchyma was apotracheal diffused with cells arranged in vertical groups of one's or two's. Rays up to four-cells wide were heterogenous multiseriates with numerous marginal rows of square to upright cells. Vessel-ray pits were of the intervascular type. Fibers were not storied, averaging 1.56 mm in length and 0.04 mm in diameter. The tiber lumen width averaged 0.03 mm while tiber wall thickness was 5.5 microns on the average.

Findings also revealed that the frequency of double and solitary pores was correlated with permeability, but the effect was minimal. Extractive substances accounted for a small percentage of the variation in the permeability of kaatoan bangkal, and the removal of extractives slightly increased permeability values. Permeability before extraction was 6.30 Darcys at the middle and 7.12 Darcys at the outer part of the bole. Fiber dimensions and specific gravity were not correlated with permeability.

Distance from the pith was significantly correlated with both permeability and extractive content. The permeability increased with increased distance from the pith while extractive content decreased.