ASSESSMENT OF SOME WOOD PROPERTIES OF EUCALYPTUS SPECIES GROWN IN MALAWI USING PILODYN METHOD

Assessment of some wood properties of Eucalyptus species grown in Mala wi showed that of the various physical wood properties, basic density and bark thickness regression models, pilodyn penetration explained 66 -80% and 17-54% of the variations in basic density and bark thickness respectively. Green moisture content was correlated to density and pil odyn readings. While significant correlations were observed among bark thickness, diameter and pilodyn penetration (over bark), no significa nt correlation were obtained between tree diameter at breast height an d basic density. Although pilodyn penetration (under bark) and gravime tric methods were closely correlated, in determining basic density for screening the species and provenances at a population mean level, pil odyn penetration was less precise when a small number of tree samples were tested. The density of wood as determined by ''Pilodyn'' wood tes ter was shown to be economical, non-destructive and accurate for scree ning species/provenances.