Fuelwood characteristics of some indigenous woody species of north-east India

Wood energy is identified as the major source of energy in rural India and this has necessitated the identification of suitable tree species that can be included in energy plantation programme. As a preliminary to a more detailed future study of wood energy plantation, four indigenous perennial tree species, viz. Albizzia lucida, Syzygium fruticosum, Pterospermum lanceaefolium and Premna bengalensis growing in their natural habitat of north-east India were collected for fuelwood characterization studies. Various physico-chemical properties, viz. moisture and ash content, density, solubility in cold water, hot water and alkali, cellulose, holocellulose, lignin and extractive contents of different parts of these species were determined on ash-free dry weight and extractive-free dry weight basis to find out relationship, if any, between ash and extractive content with the calorific value. In all the species, leaf component contained the highest calorific value presumably because of the presence of extractives in higher amount, followed by heartwood. Elimination of ash from the plant parts increased calorific value while extractive-free materials declined in net caloric content in all plant parts, indicating a possible relationship of these two parameters with the heat of combustion. This study concludes that A. lucida, S. fruticosum and P. lanceaefolium have better fuelwood properties and can be considered for inclusion in the energy plantation programme of north-east India.