Investigation of Fiber Properties of Eucalyptus globulus grown in Farta Woreda as Potential Source for Pulp and Paper Making, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the fiber properties and pulp and paper-making potential of Eucalyptus globulus grown in Farta Woreda, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Six trees with an age of eight years were sampled, and sample discs were taken at the bottom (10%), middle (50%) and top (90%) along the tree height, as well as 2x2x2 cm blocks of wood at 10%, 50% and 90% of the disc radius (distance from the pith to the bark of the tree). Fiber properties were determined, and their variation along tree height and transversally from pith to bark was evaluated. The results showed that the overall mean values along tree height and distance from the pith to the bark were 0.77mm for fiber length, 12.38µm for fiber diameter, 2.94µm for cell wall thickness, 8.23µm for lumen diameter, 19.61µm for fiber width, 0.74 for runkel ratio, 39.22% for slenderness ratio, 67.83% for flexibility coefficient, and 0.47 for wall coverage ratio. Fiber length, lumen and fiber diameter, fiber width, cell wall thickness, runkel, and wall coverage ratio decreased from the bottom to the top of the tree, while they increased transversally from the pith to the bark, except for lumen diameter and flexibility coefficient, which decreased transversally from the pith to the bark, whereas the flexibility coefficient value increased from the bottom to the top of the tree height. Slenderness ratio did not show significant variation along tree height, while it showed an increase transversally from the pith to the bark.