Variations In The Length, Diameter, Lumen -Width And Wall Thickness Of wood Fibres In Rubber (Hevea Brasiliensis(Kunth)Muel.Arg.) Grown In South Eastern Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Variations in fibre length, fibre diameter, lumen width and fibre wall thickness of rubber wood were investigated to determine suitability for some industrial utilization. The main effects were sampled in a hierarchical order of plantations,Bud classes,Trees,Discs, Cardinal directions and Ring-blocks(radii), based on the fixed effects model of a nested design. Macerated wood samples obtained at parallel positions to the grain were magnified on a Visopan microscope and investigated. The effects of differences in plantations and bud classes were not significant (P>O.05) on fibre characteristics. The effect of differences in trees were highly significant (PO.05) on fibre wall thickness. Differences due to disc(positions along the bole) and ring-blocks(radii),were not significant(p>O.05) on fibre characteristics. The pattern of variations in fibre characteristics in both axis; axial(disc)and radial(ring-blocks)directions was inconsistent in all the sampled trees. The effect of differences in cardinal directions on fibre length and fibre diameter was highly significant (pO.05). The effects of factor interactions on fibre characteristics were also investigated.The mean values of fibre characteristics were; fibre length 1.59mm, fibre diameter 29.97mu, lumen-width 17.17mu, fibre wall thickness 6.42mu.