At 08:52 AM 6/05/97 -0700, you wrote: >Promoters of Paulownia plantations are claiming incredible growth (4 years >to 60', 16" at breast-height) and value (eg $800/ cubic meter) for Paulownia >trees. This seems to be too good to be true. Are there any independent, >scientific studies on this species?? > >My thinking is that the high value is for constuction material, where a >dense(close growth-rings)wood is required. However, if the tree grows 16" in >4 years than the growth rings must be about 2" apart and the wood must be of >little value for construction (but possibly okay for pulp). > >Any thoughts on this? > There has, unfortunately, been much over-hyped promotion of Paulownia. It is true, however, that under the right conditions Paulownia produce valuable timber in a shorter time frame than any other tree. Paulownia timber is very stable - even four year old trees, if large enough, can yeild timber which does not crack or warp and can be suitable for furniture. More commonly 10 to 12 years would be required to acheive a diameter economical to mill. Paulownia is not generally used for high weight carrying construction as although it is strong for its weight it is a light timber and not as strong as most hardwoods. Being very easy to work and visually attractive, it is more likely to find its place in moldings, doors, window frames, veneers and furniture. Following is short article I wrote re. Paulownia timber which may interest you-: MORE ABOUT PAULOWNIA TIMBER... Paulownia [known as Kiri in Japan] produces pale straw coloured timber which is light, soft and easy to work, but strong for its weight and does not easily warp or split. Paulownia air dries well, thus eliminating or reducing the expense of kiln drying. Harvesting of Paulownia for high quality timber, suitable for veneer, achitraves, furniture, picture and window frames, generally takes place between 8 and 12 years. Even at 2 to 4 years of age, however, they could be used for poles or paper pulp. A ten year old Paulownia should yield at least 0.5 cubic metres of timber. One 11 year old tree in China was measured at 3.69 cubic metres timber volume. Paulownia timber industries are established in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Nth America and Brazil and are being developed in other countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Australia. There is potential for larger growers to export to Japan which purchases over 90% of all the Paulownia timber traded internationally. About 80% of Paulownia timber used in Japan is made into plywood and parts for furniture, 12% is made into small boxes and much of the remainder is used for clogs and traditional musical instruments. In 1995 Japan imported a total of 146,764 cubic metres of Paulownia from China and the USA. The Chinese exported mainly rough-sawn timber from trees around ten years of age, for which they received an average of Au$642/m3. Most of the USA timber was from older, slowly grown trees which fetched an average Au$1,571/m3 in the log. Paulownia trees cultivated in the cooler regions of Australia may be more slowly grown and consequently of higher timber quality - close growth rings are desired for furniture - than those grown in warmer climates; however, the higher rate of crop rotation in the warmer zones should compensate for any lower returns per m3. The climatic variation in Australia should allow for the production of the full range of Paulownia timber. © 1996 James Lawrence TOAD GULLY GROWERS - The Paulownia Propagation People http://peninsula.starway.net.au/~toadgully hardy planting stock... plantation planning and management assistance
Mail converted by
MHonArc 1.1.0