Kraft fibre property variation among 29 trees of 15 year old Eucalyptus fastigata and comparison with E-nitens

Variation in wood basic,density and chemistry,:and. fibre and handsheet pro perties of 29 individual trees of Eucalyptus fastigata are assessed and com pared to that of 29 E nitens trees of similar age and growing site. The 29 E. fastigata individual tree samples show this species to be of higher wood lignin content and lower pulp yield with wide ranges of fibre collapse and handsheet bulk compared to those of the 29 E. nitens trees. Fortunately th e high end of the handsheet bulk range and the low end of the fibre collaps e range are similar for the two species. Furthermore up-to about 20% of the E. fastigata and E. nitens individual tree pulps can be expected to have h andsheet bulk values >1.54 cm(3)/g at 500 rev PFI mill and be of good paper making quality.