| Abstrakt: |
A study was conducted to examine the effects of Leptocybe invasa infestation on wood basic density of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. saligna, and E. tereticornis grown in Coastal agro-ecological zone of Tanzania. A total of six trees (three infested and three uninfested by L. invasa) from each of three species aged six years were selected. Three disks, each measuring 5 cm thick were cut at 25%, 50% and 75% of total tree height from each tree. Preparation of test samples and laboratory procedures to determine basic density followed standard methods. T-test was used to determine significant differences in mean diameter at breast height (DBH), total height and basic density between infested and uninfested trees while Analysis of Variance was done to determine significant differences in wood density between species, radial and axial variation of infested and uninfested species. Results showed that there were no significant diferences in mean DBH and total height between infested and uninfested species. The mean basic density values of infested species were relatively higher by 2.7, 5.3 and 7.3% than uninfested for E. tereticornis, E. camaldulensis and E. saligna respectively although their differences were not statistically significant. There were significant variations in wood basic densities between the three species. In axial and radial directions, basic densities showed different patterns of variation in different eucalypt trees. It is recommended that, infested and uninfested eucalypt woods to be assigned similar uses although detailed studies are required on physical, mechanical and fibre properties in order to arrive at plausible recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
