Energy potential influence of high density plantations and physical properties of Gmelina arborea wood

The objective of this study was to determine the existence of any relationship between the energy potential of the species Gmelina arborea and density of planting short rotation crops, it located in the Ingenio Taboga, Canas, Guanacaste-Costa Rica. Two physical properties of wood were evaluated that corresponding to moisture content (%) and bulk density (g/cm3) for three types of planting density to 5000 trees/ha, 10000 trees/ha and 20000 trees/ha and at different positions along shaft of the tree; then, the potential energy (kJ/kg) was determined equally to the three planting densities. The range of variation of the calorific value for the three treatments was 15840,98 kJ/kg to 16134,95 kJ/ kg and had the greatest calorific value was that of 20000 trees/ ha. It ' s concluded that the density of planting (tree/ ha) doesn't affect the calorific value of the species but the physical properties of wood at the same time influence the rise and fall of this chemical property.