STUDY ON VARIATION IN FIBER LENGTH OF Acacia auriculiformis PLANTED IN QUANG TRI, VIET NAM

Abstract

Wood fiber is an important ingredient in wood structure and in the production of paper, pulp, and fiberboard. In this study, fiber lengths of 5-year-old Acacia auriculiformis of clone Clt43 were examined both in near the pith and near the bark at height of 1.3 m above the ground. The results of study showed that the mean of fiber length near the bark (1.32 mm) was significant (P < 0.05) higher than that near the pith (1.11 mm). Stress wave velocity and air-dry density were two indicators that can be used to predict wood fiber length. However, when used separately, the level of predictability was not high. When using these indicators together, the ability of predicting fiber length was significantly increased with a coefficient of correlation of 0.84 (P < 0.001). This result suggests that stress wave technique may be used in combination with wood density in rapid prediction of wood fiber length of Acacia auriculiformis before processing paper, pulp, or fiberboard.