• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2010

The present study was conducted to quantify wood and leaf litter decomposition and nutrient release of a dominant tree species, Tectona grandis Linn. F. in a tropical dry deciduous forest of Rajasthan, Western India. The mean relative decomposition rate was maximum in the wet summer and minimum during dry summer. Rainfall and its associated variables exhibited greater control over litter decomposition than temperature. The concentrations of N and P increased in decomposing litter with increasing retrieval days. Mass loss was negatively correlated with N and P concentrations. The monthly weight loss was significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with soil moisture and rainfall in both wood and leaf litter. Tectona grandis was found to be most suitable tree species for plantation programmes in dry tropical regions as it has high litter deposition and decomposition rates and thus it has advantages in degraded soil restoration and sustainable land management.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 1977

Tropical hard wood produces a number of extracts, especially hot-water extracts. The lignin content in the two kinds of bangkirai and red lauan belonging to genus Shorea, was as high as in temperate zone soft wood, mangrove wood of genus Rhizophara contained it on the same level as temperate zone hard wood and keruing of genus Dipterocarpus was in between the two kinds of bangkirau and red lauan, and keruing wood. The xylose content of saccharose composition in the tree of genus Shorea, was as low as in needle-leaved trees, mangrove wood contained it on the same level as broad-leaved trees and the xylose content in keruing wood was in between the above two kinds of wood. The total retrieving rate of alditol acetate acetificated with sulphuric acid and acetic anhydride, did not reach 100%, even if it was supplemented. There was no difficulty in analyzing alditol immediately after acetification but, when it was left for four or five days, the acetificated alditol acetate was dissolved. The pyridine alditol acetificated with pyridine and acetic anhydride, showed the same result.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.45-49
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• 1985

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.248-257
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• 2015

This research focused on the natural durability of twenty one lesser known tropical wood species planted in West Java, Indonesia against subterranean termite (Coptotermes curvignathus). It was observed that both heartwood and sapwood of Kiara payung (Filicium decipiens); heartwoods of Nangka (Arthocarpus heterophyllus), Mahoni (Swietenia macrophylla) and Simpur (Dillenia grandifolia); and sapwood of Bungur (Lagerstroemia speciosa) were rated as resistant (natural durability class II) according to Indonesian standard SNI 01.7207.2006 (BSN 2006). Both heartwood and sapwood of Salam (Syzigium polyanthum), Pasang (Lithocarpus sundaicus), Bisbul (Diospyros discolor), Rukam (Flacourtia rukam) and Trembesi (Samanea saman); heartwood of Puspa (Schima walichii), Bungur, Tanjung (Mimusops elangi) and Angsana (Pterocarpus indicus) were rated as moderately resistant (natural durability class III). Both heartwood and sapwood of Sungkai (Peronema canescens), Pine (Pinus merkusii), Mangium (Acacia mangium) and Afrika (Maesopsis eminii); sapwoods of Mahoni, Puspa and Tanjung were rated as poorly resistant (natural durability class IV). Both heartwood and sapwood of Agathis (Agathis dammara), Durian (Durio zibethinus), Ki sampang (Evodia latifolia) and Jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba); sapwoods of Nangka and Angsana were rated as very poorly resistant (natural durability class V). This reserach showed that woods with lower resistance against C. curvignathus attack (natural durability class IV and V) tend to have lower termite mortality values compared to woods with higher resistance against C. curvignathus attack (natural durability class II and III). Results of the study will provide some valuable information on termite resistance of twenty one lesser known tropical wood species planted in Indonesia.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.324-335
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• 2019

Timber from plantation forests has inferior physical and mechanical properties compared to timber from natural forest because it is mostly from fast-growing tree species that are cut at a young age. Filling cell voids with methyl methacrylate (MMA) can improve the wood properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the physical and mechanical properties of MMA-impregnated wood from three fast-growing wood species, namely jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq.), mangium (Acacia mangium Willd) and pine (Pinus merkusii Jungh. & de Vriese). Wood samples were either immersed in MMA monomer or impregnated with it and then heated to induce the polymerization process. Jabon, which was the lowest density wood, had the highest polymer loading, followed by pine and mangium. The physical and mechanical properties of samples were affected by wood species and the presence of MMA, with higher-density wood having better properties than wood with a lower density. Physical and mechanical properties of MMA wood were enhanced compared to untreated wood. Furthermore, the impregnation process was better than immersion process resulting the physical and mechanical properties. Based on MOR values, the MMA woods were one strength class higher compared to untreated wood with regard to Strength Classification of Indonesian Wood.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.567-578
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• 2019

A common problem with fast-growing hardwoods is dimensional instability that limits use of their wood. In this study, we investigated the effects of pre-drying methods, temperatures, and heating duration on the specific gravity, water absorption, and dimensional stability of three tropical fast-growing hardwoods, jabon (Neolamarckia cadamba Roxb.), sengon (Falcataria moluccana Miq.), and mangium (Acacia mangium Willd.). Wood samples were pre-dried by two methods (fan and oven at $40^{\circ}C$), and heat treatments were performed at three temperatures (120, 150, and $180^{\circ}C$) for two different time periods (2 and 6 hours). The specific gravity, water absorption, dimensional stability, and structural changes of the samples were evaluated. The results revealed that heat treatments slightly reduced the specific gravity of all three wood species. In addition, the heat treatments reduced water absorption and significantly improved dimensional stability of the samples. Oven pre-drying followed by heat treatment at $180^{\circ}C$ for 6 hours resulted in good physical improvement of jabon and sengon wood. Fan pre-drying followed by heat treatment at $180^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours improved the physical properties of mangium wood. The heat treatment shows a promising technique for improving the physical characteristic of fast growing hardwoods.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.27 no.5 s.92
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• pp.341-344
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• 1999

The genus Hypocrea, a member of the Hypocreales, has yellow to pale yellow-ochre, perithecial stromata and angular to cuboid ascospores. The isolate of Hypocrea microrufa collected on decayed tropical wood at Malaysia is compared with H. rufa and H. microsplendens. This isolation of H. microrufa will be the first record from tropical region and the first description with scanning electron microscopy. The ornamentation of ascospores used one of main taxonomic keys for identification.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 2009

Teak (Tectona grandis) is one of the most valuable timber yielding species in the world, with predominant distribution in tropical or sub-tropical countries. However, natural teak available only in few countries like India, Myanmar, Laos People's Democratic Republic and Thailand. Teak grows well in deep, well-drained alluvial soils, fairly moist, warm, tropical climate with pH ranges from 6.5-7.5. Teak is cultivated in many Asian, African and South American countries for timber production. The global teak plantations are estimated to be three million hectare with major share in India (44%) followed by Indonesia (33%). India is considered as richest genetic resources of teak with large areas of natural teak bearing forests (8.9 million ha), plantations (1.5 million ha), clonal seed orchards (1000 ha) and seed production areas (5000 ha). The studies on diversity of teak populations showed that teak is an out crossing species with major portion of diversity present within the populations. The productivity and quality of teak timber varies depending upon the site and environmental conditions. Teak wood is moderately heavy, strong and tough,straight grained, coarse textured and ring porous with specific gravity varies from 0.55 to 0.70. The sapwood is white to pale yellow in colour and clearly demarcated while heartwood is dark brown or dark golden yellow in colour. Teak is one of the most durable timbers in the world, practically, impervious to fungus and white ant attack and resistant to decay. Teak wood is used in ship and boat constructions, furnitures and aesthetic needs. Genetic improvement programmes have been undertaken in countries like Thailand, India, Malaysia and Indonesia. The programme includes provenance identification and testing, plus tree selection and clonal multiplication, establishment of seed orchards and controlled hybridization. Several aspects like phenology, reproductive biology, fruit characteristics, silvicultural practices for cultivation, pest and diseases problems, production of improved planting stock, harvesting and marketing, wood properties and future tree improvement strategy to enhance productivity have been discussed in this paper.

• Proceedings of the Korea Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.17-26
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• 2003

Nalita wood(Trema orientalis) is one of the fastest growing woods in the world. It may be a viable species for pulpwood. The physical, chemical and morphological properties of Nalita were studied. The total lignin, pentosan and holocellulose content in Nalita wood were 24.7%, 22% and 81.2%, respectively. Its fiber length was about 0.92 mm, which are comparable to Acacia mangium. Nitrobenzene oxidation of Nalita wood meal indicated that the guaciayl and syringyl unit were the major constituent of Nalita lignin. Nalita produced 50% pulp yield at Kappa number 21 in soda-anthraquinone process. The strength properties of Nalita pulp were comparable to other tropical hardwood pulp. At $40_{\circ}$ SR, the breaking length, burst index, tear index and total energy absorption were 6000 m, $3.5kPa{\cdot}m^2/g\;and\;7.0mN{\cdot}m^2/g\;and\;75J/m^2$, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.66-71
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• 1994

To increase drying rate and reduce drying degradation, pretreatments such as prefreezing and presteaming have been widely used in wood industries. Presteaming lumbers prior to kiln drying is known positively to improve its permeability, to increase diffusion coefficient and to reduce discoloration, but negatively to increase collapse. Prefreezing lumbers prior to kiln drying is also known to reduce significantly its drying defects and its shrinkages. Thus it is no doubt that the pretreated lumbers shrink diversely from the untreated. In this study the shrinkage behaviors of the pretreated specimens are investigated by drying two tropical hardwoods (Apitong and Taun) in three different dying conditions: high temperature and slow drying rate (drying in a closed cylinder), high temperature and rapid drying rate (drying in an oven) and low temperature and slow drying rate(drying at room temperature). The prefrozen specimens show the least volumetric shrinkages in most drying conditions. The specimens dried in cylinders shrink most among all drying conditions. In general the pretreated specimens reached the 30 % moisture content faster than the untreated by about 30 %.