Wood Properties and Utilization of Pollard Shoots of Indian Tulip Tree (Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol. ex Corrêa)

Forests are declining in India under severe socio-economic pressure resulting short-rotation plantation wood species as a major choice for industrial raw material. Due to shortage of raw materials, industries have to raise the fast-grown plantations of suitable wood species. Indian tulip tree (Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol. ex Corrêa) is one of the fast growing lesser-known tree species which is heavily pollarded and its shoots are used as fuelwood in coastal regions of South Gujarat. Since, T. populnea has potential for many industrial applications; therefore, a study was carried out to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of pollard shoots of this species to check the wood quality for effective utilization. Total 20 wood samples of pollard shoots (5-10 cm diameter) from 5 trees of T. populnea in the girth class of 110-160 cm were collected from road side plantation in Navsari, Gujarat. The physical and mechanical properties were evaluated in air-dry condition and compared them with corresponding published values for teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) and 3, 4-& 5-year-old Malabar neem (Melia dubia Cav.). Considering physical properties, very low wood density and high volumetric shrinkage were reported in T. populnea compared to teak and M. dubia. Among mechanical properties, static bending, compressive strength and hardness of wood from pollard shoots of T. populnea were found to be better than 3 years old M. dubia. This indicates that wood from pollard shoots of thin to moderately thick diameter of this tree species can be utilized for tool handles, light construction, light packing cases and furniture.