Growth Characteristics, Specific Gravity, and Stress Wave Velocity of 7-year-old Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia Roxb.) Planted in Gunung Bromo Educational Forest

Abstrak

Despite its IUCN status as a vulnerable species, rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) remains highly valued for premium timber, making genetic conservation vital. Evaluating wood property traits is essential in tree breeding programs to ensure product quality. This study aims to determine the correlation between growth characteristics (tree height and diameter) and Stress-Wave Velocity (SWV), and to assess the physical properties (moisture content and specific gravity) of rosewood from the pith to the bark. The study was conducted using tree height and diameter censuses, and trees were then selected based on different growth rate categories: slow-, middle-, and fast-growth. Wood core samples were collected from three selected trees in each growth-rate category to measure the physical properties of wood. A significant, strong positive correlation was found between DBH and tree height. Meanwhile, no significant correlation was found between SWV, DBH, and tree height. The average fresh moisture content decreases from the pith (75%) to the bark (54%), while the air-dry moisture content increases from the pith (16%) to the bark (19%). The average specific gravity in fresh, air-dry, and kiln-dry conditions from near the pith to the bark remains constant, ranging from 0.63–0.66, 0.67–0.71, and 0.75–0.83, respectively.