Physical and chemical traits in false heartwood for two populus hybrids
A comparative analysis was performed to determine the density, moisture content, shrinkage, pH, and concentration of potassium and calcium in samples of false heartwood and sapwood from two commercial poplar hybrids. The results showed that the calcium concentration is on average three times higher in false heartwood than in sapwood. In turn, the potassium concentration is on average five times higher in false heartwood than in sapwood. The pH increased from slightly acidic in sapwood to slightly basic in false heartwood. The moisture content is markedly higher in false heartwood than in sapwood. However, density and shrinkage do not differ between the two types of wood. A chemometric model analysis was used to differentiate between the two types of wood by using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) with multivariate analysis. The NIRS-implemented method demonstrated efficiency to discriminate between both types of wood.