Abstract

In view of the recent commercial plantation activity almost throughout the tropics, there is a renewed interest in wood quality of fast grown teak (Tectona grandis) . Based on recent results, the present paper appraises teak wood quality, in terms ofheartwood proportion and timber strength, from plantations of relatively low input management in India. Contrary to the general notion, fast growing dominant (phenotypically superior) trees yielded higher heartwood percentage per tree during the juvenileperiod up to 21 years while the differences were insignificant in mature trees at ages 55 and 65 years. Faster growth had practically little effect on timber strength at 13, 21, 55 and 65 year old plantations. Teak seems to have potential to produce timber of optimum strength in relatively short rotations of 21 years in suitable plantation sites