Evaluation of the anatomical properties of Cordia africana as alternative species for pulp and paper making in Ethiopia

The aim of this research was determining the anatomical properties of Cordia africana and analysing how these properties relate to the wood's performance for pulp and paper making. Sample discs were collected from the six trees, from the bottom (10%), middle (50%), and top (90%) of the tree height. Similarly, 2 cm×2 cm×2 cm wood blocks were obtained from the 10%, 50%, and 90% radial positions (i.e., from pith to bark) of the discs’ radius. Anatomical properties were evaluated, and its variations along tree's height and across the radial distance from pith to the bark were analysed. The findings indicated the overall mean measurements obtained were 1.19 mm for fibre length, 2.62 µm for cell wall thickness (i.e., represents single cell wall thickness), 27.83 µm for fibre diameter, 19.41 µm for lumen diameter, 28.55 µm for fibre width, 0.27 for the Runkel ratio, 43.25 for the slenderness ratio, 59.44 for the flexibility coefficient, and 0.18 for the wall coverage ratio. Most of the anatomical properties of C. africana decreased from the bottom to the top of the tree, while increasing radially from the pith to the bark. In addition, the slenderness ratio showed that there is no significant variation along the tree height but increased from the pith to the bark. The study showed that the fibre characteristics of C. africana , indicating its potential as an alternative species for pulp and paper production, with notable variations in anatomical properties observed along the height of the tree and radially from the pith to the bark.