International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

Evaluation of Fuel Wood Properties of Melia dubia at Different Age Gradation

Author Affiliations

  • 1Dept. of Tree Breeding, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam 641301, TN, INDIA
  • 2Dept. of Tree Breeding, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam 641301, TN, INDIA
  • 3Dept. of Tree Breeding, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam 641301, TN, INDIA
  • 4Dept. of Tree Breeding, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam 641301, TN, INDIA
  • 5Dept. of Tree Breeding, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam 641301, TN, INDIA

Res. J. Agriculture & Forestry Sci., Volume 1, Issue (6), Pages 8-11, July,8 (2013)

Abstract

Study was carried out at Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, India using different age gradation viz., one , two, three, four and five year of Melia dubia wood samples collected from the plantations raised at Kollegal, Samraj Nagar District, Karnataka to evaluate the fuel wood properties . Among the differ ent age gradation of Melia dubia 5 - year age old wood recorded high calorific value (3820.00 Kcal Kg - 1 ) and high Fuel wood Value Index (4125.60). The proximate analysis of 5 - year age old Melia dubia recorded lowest value for moisture content (8.00 %); volat ile matter (66.50 %) and ash content (0.50 %) and highest fixed carbon content (25.00 %). In a holistic perspective, the study identified that the 5 - year age - old Melia dubia wood exhibited superiority in all energy properties that lend support to its amen ability for energy utility.

References

  1. Shanavas A. and Mohankumar B., Fuelwood characteristicsof tree species in home gardens of Kerala, India,Agroforestry Systems, 58, 11-24 (2003)
  2. Deka D., Saikia P. and Konwer D., Ranking of fuelwoodspecies by fuel value index, Energy Sources, 29, 1499-506(2007)
  3. Osei W.Y., Woodfuel and deforestation-answers for asuitable environment, Journal of EnvironmentalManagement, 37, 51–62 (1993)
  4. Bhattacharya B. and Nanda S.K., Building fuelwooddemand supply scenario, Journal of Rural Development, 11(6), 773–787 (1992)
  5. Kumar N.J.I., Patel K., Rita N.K. and Rohit K.B., Anevaluation of fuelwood properties of some aravallymountain tree and shrub species of western India, Biomassand Bioenergy, 35, 411-414 (2011)
  6. Heltberg R., Arndt T.C. and Sekhar N.U., FuelwoodConsumption and Forest Degradation: A Household Modelfor Domestic Energy Substitution in Rural India, LandEconomics, 76(2), 213-232 (2000)
  7. Luna R.K., Plantation Forestry in India, International BookDistributors, Dehra Dun, India, 320-338 (2006)
  8. Kumaravelu G., The Hindu science and technology –agriculture” Co-4 grass, Melia dubia, can generatesubstantial power for Tamil Nadu, 134, (2012)
  9. Haygreen G.J. and Bowger J.L., Forest products and woodscience – An introduction, IOWA State University Press,Ames, U.S.A (1982)
  10. Bhatt B.P. and Badoni A.K., Fuelwood characteristics ofsome mountain fuelwood shrubs and trees, Energy, 15,1069-70 (1990)11. ASTM (American society for testing and materialsstandards), Standard E711-87 (2004)
  11. TAPPI test methods, Atlanta (USA): Technical Associationfor Paper and Pulp Industries (TAPPI) Publications (1992)
  12. Bhatt B.P. and Todaria N.P., Fuelwood characteristics ofsome Indian mountain tree species, Forest Ecology andManagement, 47, 363-366 (1992)
  13. Kumar M., Patel S.K. and Mishra S., Studies onCharacteristics of Some Shrubaceous Non-woody BiomassSpecies and Their Electricity Generation Potentials, EnergySources, 32, 786–795 (2010)
  14. Purohit A.N. and Nautiyal A.R., Fuelwood value index ofIndian mountain tree species, The International Tree CropsJournal, 4, 177-82 (1987)
  15. Murphy W.K. and Cutter B.E., Gross heat of combustion offive hardwood species of different moisture content, ForestProducts Journal, 24, 44-45 (1974)
  16. Sekhar A.C., Physical properties of Indian timbers, In:Hand book of Indian woods and wood panels: Solid woods[Ranganathan V., B.K. Bakshi, A. Purshotham, A.Krishnamoorthy and A.C. Sekkar (Eds.)], OxfordUniversity Press, Delhi, India, 70-83 (1988)
  17. Goel V.L. and Behl H.M., Fuelwood quality of promisingspecies for alkaline soil sites in relation to tree age, Biomassand Bioenergy, 10(1), 57-61 (1996)
  18. Bhatt B.P. and Tomar J.M.S., Firewood properties of someIndian mountain tree and shrub species, Biomass andBioenergy, 23, 257-260 (2002)
  19. Jain R.K., Fuelwood characteristics of medium tree andshrub species of India, Bioresource Technology, 47, 81-84(1994)
  20. Bhagwanrao S.V., Development and optimization of cropresidue based briquettes exclusively for gasification,M.Tech. Thesis in Bio-energy, Agricultural Engineering,Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (2010)