Wood density and shrinkage of five-year-old Eucalyptus camaldulensis × E. globulus hybrids: preliminary assessment

Summary

Trees of Eucalyptus camaldulensis × E. globulus subsp. globulus hybrids growing at Pinjarra, Western Australia, were harvested for assessment of wood fibre and wood properties of sawn timber. Trees were 5-y-old at the time of felling. Wood density was in the medium range: mean green density was 980 kg m⁻³, basic density was 507 kg m⁻³ and air-dry density was 653 kg m⁻³. Green moisture content was 94%. Tangential shrinkage before reconditioning was greater than the shrinkage of mature E. camaldulensis or 13-y-old E. globulus. Radial shrinkage of the hybrid wood at 4.9% was similar to that of mature E. camaldulensis but less than that reported from 13-y-old E. globulus. The wood of E. camaldulensis × E. globulus has potential for value-added purposes; no problems were identified with sawmilling, drying and sanding.

Keywords:

• wood properties
• quality
• density
• shrinkage
• moisture content
• hybrids
• Eucalyptus camaldulensis
• Eucalyptus globulus