> Gordon J. Esplin 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?? > > I've been a promoter of paulownia since '92. My clients have > over 1,000 acres here in my county in South Carolina. We have > trees that (after coppicing the first year's growth) have > produced a trunk that exceeds seven inches DBH in only two > years. You would need a pretty good bucket truck or some > other means to cause a straight trunk for sixty feet. Most > of our growers have opted for a single-log tree, with > sixteen feet of straight, clear growth. > > In four years, an eight-inch DBH is probably average for all > types of sites across the South. > > > 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? > > Again, paulownia may reach that growth rate in the tropics, where > it becomes an evergreen. Paulownia is exceptionally strong for > a material so light in weight. Dimensional stability to the > extreme and very little loss in processing are other major factors. > > We have some dimensional pieces, up to 9 feet in length, made from > some 14-year-old tomentosa, grown in North Carolina. I would build > a house with it, if only enough were available now. Paulownia's > fiber length is best suited for fine papers, not the products that > pine is grown for in the South. Highest quantity uses will be as > a direct replacement for poplar in many plywood products, and in > oriented strand board (OSB). Forty percent less weight, with no > sacrifice in strength is strong reason to investigate further, when > transportation costs matter. > > Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. > > Fred Wright > Carolina Pacific International, Inc. > Aiken, SC > fredw@scescape.net > http://moneytree.scescape.net
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