Physical and chemical properties of slash pine tree parts

Abstract

In three 22-year-old slash pines from an unthinned plantation in central Louisiana, stemwood comprised 58.5 percent of total ovendry tree weight. Stumps and main roots made up 16.5 percent, bark 12.5, top of bole 5.0 , needles 4.0 and branches 3.5. This material now is largely wasten when a tree is harvested; methods of utilizing it would extend fiber supplies by 70 percent. Stemwood had higher specific gravity (avg. 0.47 ovendry weight, green volume) and higher alpha-cellulose content (51 percent) than any other tree part. All waste portions had greater lignin and extractive contents than stemwood. Generally, however, chemical data for stumps and roots did not differ greatly from that for stemwood. Ash content of all parts was relatively low.

Citation

Howard, Elaine T. 1972. Physical and chemical properties of slash pine tree parts. Wood Science, Vol. 5(4): 312-317