Abstract

In India, short rotation plantation-grown eucalypts are mostly used for pulp and fuelwood. Much attention has been given to study the pulping characteristics. However, studies conducted to evaluate the suitability of eucalypts for other uses are few. Plantation-grown eucalypts are used in other countries for poles, posts, pit props, flooring, furniture and panel products. As wood properties of trees planted in exotic environment may often be strikingly different from those in their native environment, a clear understanding of the characters of wood is essential for its effective use. Important wood characteristics like specific gravity, strength, shrinkage, etc. and features like grains, knots, kino veins, growth stresses, etc. need to be studied in depth and basic data generated. The age at which the trees provide wood with the qualities most suitable for different end uses need to be established. Studies conducted in India pertaining to utilization of eucalypt wood for