Context : P reliminary screening has been undertaken by woody species of Tamaulipan thornscrub for wood density and its utilization northeastern Mexico for different purposes and to find possible relationship of density with wood fibre characteristics. This technique can be used in the selection of species with high wood density for possible utility. Aims : It is to d etermine the variability in wood density and in fiber cell morphology and its length and among wood species of the Tamaulipan thornscrub, northeastern Mexico. Methods : Wood density and wood fibres are characterized in these woody species following standard methodology. Results : The results reveal large variability in wood density and in fibre cell morphology h. The species have been classified on the basis of wood density and its fibber cell morphology and has been recommended for their possible utilization for different purposes. Conclusions : Species desirable for strong furniture making, paper pulp, soft furniture, fence etc. can be selected on the basis of fibre length to breadth ratios as strong fibres for furniture and fibre cells with broad lumen and thin cell wall use for fabrication of paper pulp and other utilities.
The shrubs and trees of the Tamaulipan thornscrub in the semiarid regions of the northeastern Mexico are of great economic importance for various uses such as timber for furniture, fence, post, firewood and sources of forage for wild grazing animals for possessing macro- and micro-nutrients required by animals, herbs, medicine and reforestation [
Wood density contributes to the quality of a timber and its utility in wood industry. Wood density is an important variable in carbon cycle research. It offers resistance in the trees against wind, storms, cavitation of xylem vessels, and other environmental stresses. Reyes et al. [
Bhat et al. [
For accurate estimates of the carbon stocks present in the world’s tropical forests, there is a growing need for accurate tree biomass estimations on large spatial scales Chave et al. [
Wood density predicts life-history strategies of tree species, as it is closely related to tree growth rates [
Several studies on wood density have shown that community-level wood density varies considerably among neotropical forests Wiemann and Williamson [
Santiago et al. [
Jérôme Chave et al. [
According to Hugo Martínez-Cabrera [
Conifers are the most important source of raw material for the Mexican timber industry, besides they are a source of environmental services and are habitat of many living organisms. Pablo Martínez-Antúnez et al. [
A study was undertaken to determine the variability in fiber cell morphology and its length among thirty sevenwood species of the Tamaulipan thornscrub, northeastern Mexico at the experimental station of Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, located in the municipality of Linares (2447N. 9932W), at elevation of 350 m. The climate is subtropical or semiarid with warm summer, monthly mean air temperature vary from 14.7˚C in January to 23˚C in August, although during summer the temperature goes up to 45˚C. Average annual precipitation is around 805 mm with bimodal distribution.
The Study Consists of Two StagesWood density in these woody species is determined by collecting 10 pieces of wood of each of 5 cm long from the branches of the tree of each species.
These wood pieces were then dried in an oven at 80˚C for 3 days cooled and weighed in a desiccator to avoid absorption of moisture from the atmosphere. The wood piece was later dipped in water in a measuring cylinder for measuring the volume of the wood. The density of wood was calculated as follows:
We selected few woods varying in wood density for wood fibre characterization. Sample woods for fibre characterization. We did fibre characterization of the selected species varying in wood density. One disk of 0.1 m thick was taken from two primary branch of a tree from each species. Few small pieces of wood of each species were dipped in concentrated nitric acid and plugged with cotton. Then the test tubes are kept in boiling water bath until the wood pieces started disintegrating. Then acid was decanted slowly and the macerated wood elements were washed several times with distilled water. Then, the macerated fiber cells were stained with safranin (1%) and observed under microscope and taken photographs with digital camera fixed with microscope.
The results showed that the thirty seven woody species of Tamaulipan thornscrub Northeastern Mexico differed in wood density and fibre characteristics. The wood density exhibited by these 37 species is shown in
It is observed that the woody species (trees and shrubs) belonging to different families showed a large variation in Wood density ranging from 0.511 to 1.09 g/cm3.
In the following
The species showed significant different differences (<0.001). In the following
Thespecies of high density were Acacia schaffneri (1.10 g/cm3), Fraxinus greggii (1.02 g/cm3), Helietta parvifolia (1.00 g/cm3), the species with médium density were Croton suaveolens (0.91 g/cm3), Karwinskia humboldtiana (0.88 g/cm3), Acacia farnesiana (0.81 g/cm3), and the species with low density Diospyros texana (0.64 g/cm3), Forestiera angustifolia, Cordia boissieri (0.63 g/cm3) Salix lasiolepis (0.51 g/cm3).
On the basis of the results of wood density we can classify woody species in the following:
Very hard: Acacia shaffneri (1.096), Fraxinus gregii (1.016), Helietta parviflora (0.998). Bernardia myricifolia (0.975).
Hard: Acacia rigidula (0.974), Quercus virginiana (0.962), Berberis chococo (0.961), Prosopis laevigata (0.953). The Woods of these species could be recommended for manufacture of furniture and doors.
Medium hard: Gymnosperma glutinosum (0.942), Sargentia gregii (0.929), Croton suaveolens (0912), Eysenhardtia polystachya (0.910), Ebenopsis ébano (0.909), Cercidium macrum (0.901). These species could be recommended for soft wood furniture, fences, fire wood, vegetablecarbón.
Soft: Acacia wrighttii (0.896), Karwinskia humboldtiana (0.884) Acacia berlandieri (0.875), Amyris texana (0.863). These species may be used for fire wood or paper pulp depending on fibre cell characteristics.
Very soft: Leucaena leucocephala (0.6733), Zanthoxylum fagara (0.6610), Diospyros texana (0.642), Forestiera angustifolia (0.6338), Cordia boissieri (0.6258), Salix lasiolepis (0.513). These Woods may be used for fire Wood, fences etc.
In the following
One can select species desirable for strong furniture making, paper pulp, soft furniture, fence etc.
It is observed that there exists large variation in wood fibre cell dimension on the basis of which we can classify species.
Species with very long fibre cells (>500 µm): Quercus polymorpha (709.39), Celtis laevigata (657.58), Helietta parvifolia (647.78), Ehretia anacua (644.66), Acacia farnesiana (598.58) Ziziphus obtusifolia (591.09), Acacia rigidula (581.53), Gochnatia hypoleuca (563.30), Fraxinus greggii (535.67), Cordia boissieri (518), Karwinskia humboldtiana (507.33), Acacia shaffneri (501.17). It is to be considered that for imparting strength,
Name common | Name scientific | Family | type | Leaf type | Density g/cm3 | SD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Huizache chino | Acacia shaffneri | Fabaceae | Tree | compuesta | 1.0960 | 0.0591 |
Barreta china | Fraxinus greggii | Oleaceae | Tree | compuesta | 1.0165 | 0.1298 |
Barreta | Helietta parvifolia | Rutaceae | Shrub | compuesta | 0.9986 | 0.1702 |
Oreja de ratón | Bernardia myricifolia | Euphrobiaceae | Shrub | simple | 0.9752 | 0.0919 |
Chaparroprieto | Acacia rigidula | Fabaceae | Shrub | compuesta | 0.9749 | 0.0926 |
Encino | Quercus virginiana | Fabaceae | Tree | simple | 0.9622 | 0.1889 |
paloamarillo | Berberis chococo | Berberidaceae | Shrub | compuesta | 0.9611 | 0.1077 |
Mezquite | Prosopis laevigata | Fabaceae | Tree | compuesta | 0.9536 | 0.0771 |
Tatalencho | Gymnosperma glutinosum | Asteraceae | Shrub | simple | 0.9422 | 0.1349 |
Chapoteamarillo | Sargentia gregii | Rutaceae | Tree | compuesta | 0.9296 | 0.1264 |
Salvia | Croton suaveolens | Euphrobiaceae | Shrub | simple | 0.9121 | 0.1371 |
Varadulce | Eysenhardti apolystachya | Fabaceae | Shrub | compuesta | 0.9105 | 0.0837 |
Ebano | Ebenopsis ebano | Fabaceae | Tree | compuesta | 0.9096 | 0.0652 |
Palo verde | Cercidium macrum | Fabaceae | Tree | compuesta | 0.9010 | 0.1042 |
Uña de gato | Acacia wrightt | Mimosaceae | Tree | compuesta | 0.8968 | 0.0821 |
Coyotillo | Karwinskia humboldtiana | Rhamnaceae | Shrub | Simple | 0.8846 | 0.0802 |
Huajillo | Acacia berlandieri | Fabaceae | Tree | compuesta | 0.8756 | 0.0631 |
Barretilla | Amyris texana | Rutaceae | Shrub | compuesta | 0.8631 | 0.0725 |
Brasil | Condalia hoockeri | Rhamnaceae | Tree | Simple | 0.8507 | 0.1432 |
Anacua | Ehretia anacua | Boraginaceae | Tree | simple | 0.8236 | 0.1188 |
Lantana | Lantana macropoda | Verbenaceae | Shrub | simple | 0.8210 | 0.2520 |
Huizache | Acacia farnesiana | Fabaceae | Shrub | compuesta | 0.8080 | 0.0902 |
Cenizo | Leucophyllum frutescens | Scrophulariaceae | Shrub | simple | 0.7868 | 0.1827 |
Coma | Bumelia celastrina | Sapotacee | Tree | simple | 0.7853 | 0.0775 |
Guayacan | Guaiacum angustifolium | Zygophyllaceae | Shrub | compuesta | 0.7836 | 0.1423 |
Granjeno | Celtis pallida | Ulmaceae | Shrub | simple | 0.7768 | 0.0649 |
Retama | Parkinsonia aculeata | Fabaceae | Tree | compuesta | 0.7568 | 0.0868 |
Chapotemanzano | Diospyros palmeri | Ebenaceae | Tree | simple | 0.7222 | 0.0637 |
Palo blanco | Celtis laevigata | Ulmaceae | Tree | simple | 0.7170 | 0.0349 |
Tenaza | Harvadia pallens | Fabaceae | Tree | compuesta | 0.7065 | 0.0608 |
Hierba del potro | Caesalpinia mexicana | Fabaceae | Tree | compuesta | 0.6927 | 0.0372 |
Leucaena | Leucaena leucocephala | Fabaceae | Tree | compuesta | 0.6733 | 0.0809 |
Colima | Zanthoxylum fagara | Rutaceae | Shrub | compuesta | 0.6610 | 0.0430 |
Chapoteprieto | Diospyros texana | Ebenaceae | Tree | simple | 0.6420 | 0.0548 |
Panalero | Forestiera angustifolia | Oleaceae | Shrub | simple | 0.6338 | 0.0325 |
Anacahuita | Cordia boissieri | Boraginaceae | Tree | Simple | 0.6258 | 0.0467 |
Sauce | Salix lasiolepis | Salicaceae | Tree | simple | 0.5138 | 0.0423 |
Statistical | ||
---|---|---|
Variable | c2 | Valor p |
Density (g/cm3) | 254.92 | <0.001 |
Specie | FIBRE CELL LENGTH µm | BREADTH µm | CELL WALL THICKNESS µm | LENGTH/ BREADTHBER | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average | Std | Average | Std | Average | Std | Average | Std | |
Acacia berlandieri | 464 | 159.70 | 23.52 | 7.40 | 2.98 | 1.42 | 19.73 | 21.58 |
Acacia farnesiana | 598.58 | 255.24 | 16.66 | 8.22 | 2.94 | 1.10 | 35.93 | 31.05 |
Acacia shaffneri | 501.17 | 248.84 | 16.85 | 9.90 | 2.94 | 1.48 | 29.74 | 25.14 |
Acacia wrightii | 438.06 | 214.92 | 15.68 | 6.56 | 2.89 | 0.95 | 27.94 | 32.76 |
Bernardia myricifolia | 450.59 | 105.04 | 22.73 | 8.72 | 3.13 | 1.48 | 19.82 | 12.05 |
Caesalpinia mexicana | 464.71 | 110.31 | 20.18 | 8.49 | 3.28 | 1.75 | 23.03 | 12.99 |
Capsicum annuum | 437.26 | 93.12 | 18.62 | 10.33 | 2.84 | 1.03 | 23.48 | 9.01 |
Celtis laevigata | 657.58 | 246.60 | 17.64 | 12.04 | 3.08 | 1.46 | 37.28 | 20.48 |
Celtis pallida | 471.97 | 162.82 | 14.11 | 6.9 | 3.08 | 1.08 | 33.45 | 23.60 |
Condalia hookeri | 398.47 | 161.13 | 17.64 | 10.09 | 3.23 | 1.52 | 22.59 | 15.97 |
Cordia boissieri | 518.03 | 155.09 | 16.46 | 7.25 | 3.72 | 1.8 | 31.47 | 21.39 |
Croton terreyanus | 453.53 | 101.78 | 14.73 | 7.67 | 3.23 | 1.15 | 30.79 | 13.27 |
Diospyros palmeri | 486.47 | 152.47 | 18.03 | 8.48 | 3.08 | 1.08 | 26.98 | 17.98 |
Ehretia anacua | 644.66 | 270.67 | 11.56 | 3.8 | 4.45 | 3.11 | 55.77 | 71.23 |
Eysenhardtia polystachya | 477.65 | 96.88 | 19.99 | 8.62 | 2.84 | 1.14 | 23.89 | 11.24 |
Forestiera angustifolia | 488.43 | 72.21 | 23.91 | 5.99 | 4.80 | 0.85 | 20.43 | 12.06 |
Fraxinus greggii | 535.67 | 150.90 | 17.64 | 13.42 | 2.74 | 1.17 | 30.37 | 11.24 |
Gochnatia hypoleuca | 563.30 | 176.16 | 17.24 | 5.79 | 2.94 | 1.21 | 32.67 | 30.42 |
Helietta parvifolia | 647.78 | 209.75 | 15.48 | 4.88 | 2.94 | 1.3 | 41.85 | 42.98 |
Karwinskia humboldtiana | 507.33 | 219.48 | 15.68 | 10.47 | 3.08 | 1.19 | 32.36 | 20.96 |
Lantana macropoda | 391.60 | 86.18 | 14.30 | 7.97 | 2.59 | 0.76 | 27.38 | 10.81 |
Leucophyllum frutescens | 438.45 | 94.49 | 16.66 | 7.47 | 3.08 | 1.19 | 26.32 | 12.65 |
Morus celtidifolia | 454.72 | 130.86 | 15.68 | 6.26 | 2.74 | 0.80 | 29 | 20.90 |
Parkinsonia aculeata | 473.33 | 110.03 | 31.64 | 8.55 | 6.86 | 0.98 | 14.96 | 12.87 |
Prosopisla evigata | 412.97 | 190.85 | 10.78 | 2.96 | 2.84 | 0.90 | 38.31 | 64.48 |
Quercus polymorpha | 709.39 | 190.17 | 13.72 | 6.26 | 2.59 | 0.58 | 51.70 | 30.38 |
Salix lasiolepis | 455.11 | 150.25 | 16.07 | 6.78 | 3.43 | 1.30 | 28.32 | 22.16 |
Zantoxyllum fagara | 454.13 | 155.8 | 16.07 | 8.57 | 3.23 | 1.15 | 28.26 | 18.18 |
Ziziphus obtusifolia | 591.09 | 150.72 | 20.58 | 7.20 | 2.98 | 1.33 | 28.72 | 20.93 |
several factors need to be mentioned such as not only length, but also wall thickness, length breadth ratio are important. It is expected that the species having long fibres are expected to produce strong wood or strong paper pulp. Some of the species viz. Acacia farnesiana, Cordia biosiieri Leucophyllum leucocephala have desirable
characteristics for good paper pulp for having one bigger fibre breadth and thin cell wall.
The species having high value of length/breadth ratio of fibre cells are expected to produce strong wood fibres were: Ehretia anacua (55.77), Quercus polymorpha (51.71), Helietta parvifolia (41.85), Prosopis laevigata (38.31), Celtis laevigata (37.28), Acacia farnesiana (33.95), Celtis pallida (33.45), Gochnatia hypoleuca (32.67), Karwinskia humboldtiana (32.36), Cordia boissieri (31.47). These could be recommended for paper pulp manufacture also.
Species having broad breadth are expected to be desirable for paper pulp production which could be selected from the table.
In the following are depicted the wood fibre cell morphology of the selected woody species. A large variability is seen in the fibre length, breadth and lumen of the wood fibres of these species.
Medium Hard
Very Soft
It is observed that in general the species having high wood density (hard) possess thick fibre cell wall and narrow lumen, while those with low density (soft wood) possess thin cell wall and broader lumen.
In the present study, there exists a large variability in wood density among 37 woody species in Northeastern Mexico. It is observed that the following species with very hard to hard woods possess open canopy where all leaves are exposed to solar radiation for efficient photosynthesis and probably high carbón fixation. Acacia shaffnei (1.01 g/cm3), Bernardia myricifolia (0.97 g/cm3), Acacia rigidula (0.97 g/cm3). The species with semi- close leaf canopy possess médium hard wood Ebenopsis ébano (0.96 g/cm3), Acacia wrightii (0.89 g/cm3). The following species with close leaf canopy possess very soft wood Diospyros texana (0.64g/cm3), Forestiera angustifolia (0.83 g/cm3), Cordia boissieri (0.62 g/cm3). The variability in wood density enables in selection of species with hard, medium or soft wood for use in the manufacture of furniture, doors and others.
It is well known that wood density contributes to the quality of wood and its utility in wood industry. In this respect, the results of the present study coincide with the findings of several authors in determining wood density of woody species in different geographical regions. Variability in wood density is reported in tropical tree species [
Wood fibre cell length and cell wall thick contribute a lot to wood quality for which wood technologists are interested to determine wood fibre dimensions. One can select species desirable for strong furniture making, paper pulp, soft furniture, fence etc. Variability in wood fibre dimensions and its possible relation with wood quality and utility is reported by Maiti et al. [
It is well documented in vegetable fibres that the species having long fibre cell length and high length/breadth ratio contributed to strong fibres used for cordaje, gunny bags and other textile materials. While the species having high breadth/lumen breadth and thin wall are suitable for fabrication of paper pulp [
Species having high wall thickness are expected to produce strong fibre for high lignification which could be selected from the table. The results on fibre dimensions in the present study coincide with the findings by several authors mentioned before for its possible utility with respect to variability in fibre cell dimensions .Though the present study was concentrated on the characterization of fibre cells Maiti et al. [
The authors are highly thankful to Elsa Gonzalez for dedicated hard work in the wood density analysis to our full satisfaction.
Humberto Gonzalez Rodriguez,Ratikanta Maiti,Aruna Kumari,N. C. Sarkar, (2016) Variability in Wood Density and Wood Fibre Characterization of Woody Species and Their Possible Utility in Northeastern Mexico. American Journal of Plant Sciences,07,1139-1150. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2016.77109