Assessment of the possibility in wood utilization of Azadirachta excelsa (Jack) Jacobs

Abstract

Azadirachta excelsa (Jack) Jacobs is an indigenous and multi-purpose tree
species. It is one of the major timber for plantation in dry regions of South
Central Coast of Vietnam. Study on wood properties of Azadirachta excelsa
with the purpose of clarifying scientific base for utilization was carried out.
Wood of Azadirachta excelsa collected from natural forests has higher
density and strength capability than those of wood collected from
plantations. Shrinkage and swelling in both radial and tangential direction
and volume of wood collected from plantations or natural forests are
similar. Wood properties were at medium to high grade, shrinkage and and
swelling in both radial and tangential direction and volume are good
characteristics for drying utilization. Wood properties of Azadirachta
excelsa are similar to wood of some species in group I (for timber from
natural forests) and group II (for timber from plantations) as classified
according to physical and machenical properties applied to wood used in
construction and transportation. However, when classified according to the characteristic for use of timber in some other purposes, the wood from
natural forests and plantations are in the same group. Wood of
Azadirachta excelsa is not suitable for veneer production but fairly good for
the structure and inner door or furniture due to quyte hard and heavy with
durability, wood surface is not very smooth, but brown - pink wood
relatively nice to do furniture. Wood should be dried well because of hight
shrinkage coefficient in volume and avoided exposure to water or in places
with high humidity