An investigation on peeling recovery and quality of senile plantation-grown rubber trees in Laos
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ORIGINAL
An investigation on peeling recovery and quality of senile plantation‑grown rubber trees in Laos Benoit Belleville1 · Phouluang Chounlamounty2 · Khonethong Soukphaxay2 · Vansy Phengthajam2 · Lothim Saetern2 · Hilary Smith3 · Barbara Ozarska1 Received: 23 February 2020 © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract The study assessed the peeling potential of rubber trees past the prime latex-producing age when the latex yields become non-economical. Fifteen 25-year-old plantation-grown trees were harvested and peeled using spindleless lathe technology. Following peeling, veneer sheets were measured and graded to determine volume and quality recoveries. Relationships between billet characteristics and recoveries or quality were examined and a recovery predictive model proposed. Most of the main causes identified for downgrading face veneers were either processing-related issues or drying-induced defects. Thus, a combination of several optimisation techniques could annihilate most of the main causes of downgrading veneer, potentially leading to a substantial proportion of higher-quality veneers typically used where surface decorative appearance is a primary consideration. The results demonstrated that rubber trees past their latex-producing prime from unthinned and unpruned stands have qualities and desirable traits to potentially produce certain high-value engineered wood products. Senile rubber trees in Laos could represent significant additional revenue to growers and a source of raw material to the industry which, theoretically, could be converted into high-value products if other factors can be overcome.
1 Introduction Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) was first introduced into Laos in the 1930s but it was not until 60 years later in 1990 that the first company invested in growing rubber in Thakek in Central Laos (Epprecht et al. 2018). In 1994, the Hmong village of Hadnyao in Luang Namtha Province of Northern Laos established over 300 ha of rubber in smallholdings (Manivong et al. 2003) following which there was an increase throughout the country. By 2018 rubber was the most planted tree crop in Laos, covering an estimated 58% (275,145 ha) of the total planted area. In Luang Namtha * Benoit Belleville [email protected] 1
Faculty of Science, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Richmond, VIC, Australia
2
Department of Forest Economics and Wood Technology, Faculty of Forestry Science, The National University of Laos, Xaythany District, Vientiane Capital, Laos
3
College of Science, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
Province, local authorities estimate that rubber plantations represent 90% of the plantation area (36,000 ha) (Luang Namtha Province Division of Agriculture and Forestry 2019, personal communications), with around 22,000 ha currently being tapped for latex (NAFRI 2018, unpublished data). Nationwide, rubber is planted under a variety of arrangements—by
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