Quality assessment of teak (Tectona grandis) wood from trees grown in a multi-stratified agroforestry system established in an Amazon rainforest area

Abstract

The establishment of agroforestry systems (AFS) is a consistent strategy to integrate sustainable supply of wood, food and environmental services in a single land plot. Teak (Tectona grandis Linn. F.) is an interesting option for the tree component in AFS, though there is a lack of information on its potential. This study aimed to characterize the quality of teak wood produced in an AFS regarding its technological characteristics and best end uses. Wood was sampled from a multi-stratified AFS located in the midwestern region of Rondônia state, Brazil, more specifically in a formerly deforested area of Amazon rainforest. The AFS is composed of double-ranked perennial crops and the forest component has growing space of 5.0 × 2.5 m. Physical-mechanical properties of teak wood were assessed and the results indicated its medium to high dimensional stability along with mechanical performance very close to that determined for wood from either homogeneous plantations or natural forests. Specific strength was significantly higher than some tropical wood species with higher densities. Teak wood from the AFS reached the minimum requirements for structural applications, with suitable properties to be used in the manufacture of decks, partitions and, residential flooring.

Effect of thermal treatment on the physical properties of GG100 clone Eucalyptus wood

“…As a general rule, the linear and volumetric shrinkages are considered very important for practical applications, such as the structural use of the wood. High values of these parameters can result in cracks and warping of wood products that demand high dimensional stability, as is the case of furniture and door/window frames [38][39][40]. Similar results to ours, regarding the effect of thermal treatment on the dimensional stability of wood, have been reported for other wood species.…”

Non-Isothermal Thermogravimetry of Selected Tropical Woods and Their Degradation under Fire Using Cone Calorimetry

“…This was valid for Cumaru, Ipe, and Kempas while Garapa and Merbau decline. This is probably due the fact that the latter two woods give the decomposition phenomenon composed formally from two processes [ 19 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”

Chemical composition of heartwood and sapwood of Tectona grandis characterized by CG/MS-PY

“…Brazil has more than 90,000 hm 2 of planted teak forests, 40% growth in ten years, this wood is mainly used in the naval industry and furniture manufacturing. However, the national market is very restricted, studies on the chemical composition can enable the use of teak wood for other purposes 4 , 5 . These compounds are mainly quinones like the anthraquinones group conferring resistance to xylophagous organisms, but with variations in composition and concentration related to age, genetic material, tree position (heartwood and sapwood), silvicultural treatments, soil, climate and management 6 .…”