Impact of in-situ moisture conservation measures on wood anatomical properties of Acacia auriculiformis in Western Ghats of Karnataka

The study was conducted to assess the effect of different moisture conservation measures viz. ring basin, half ring basin, pitting, trenching, trapezoidal basin, mulching on the wood properties of ten-year old Acacia auriculiformis. The values of fibre length (1265|im), fibre diameter (31.94 |im) and fibre lumen diameter (21.25 |im) were higher under ring basin when compared to that in control. Increase in cell size and related dimensions of fibres have a major influence on the quality of paper and pulp products as well as solid wood products. Vessel morphology such as vessel frequency and vessel diameter were lower in the trees treated with moisture conservation measures compared to the control, since vessel dimensions are known to affect paper sheet properties, those with lower valuess houldb ep referred. Tissuep roportions viz., vesselp ercentage, p arenchyma percentageand fibrepercentage alsoshowed significantdif ferenceswith respect to different moisture conservation measures. The value of fibre percentage (15.87%) was maximum in ring basin and lowest (10%) for control. However, vessel percentage (3.57%) and parenchyma percentage (6.8%) were lower in ring basin. Since the ring basin conserves more water, cambial initials differentiate to become more fibreous than other tissue proportions. This suggested that ring basin is the best moisture conservation treatment in A. auriculiformis plantation to improve the strength of paper and pulpwood quality as well as timber quality.