Neem in India
POST-HARVEST USES OF WOOD
S. ANANTHANARAYANAN and P.M. GANAPATHY
The present-day uses of neem are numerous6. This review attempts to identify gaps in information
relating to neem wood utilization.
S. ANANTHANARAYANAN and P.M. GANAPATHY
The present-day uses of neem are numerous6. This review attempts to identify gaps in information
relating to neem wood utilization.
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NEEM WOOD
General Features
Sapwood yellowish to yellowish-grey turning pale yellowish brown on exposure. Heartwood reddish to
reddish-brown darkening on exposure. Wood somewhat lustrous, hard to very hard, usually heavy
(sp.gr.O.72 to 0.83, oven dry); mildly aromatic when fresh; interlocked-grained; usually medium to
somewhat coarse-textured; finer in texture when fast grown. Figure is often noticeable in plain sawn
boards due to parenchyma bands as well as small knots.
General Features
Sapwood yellowish to yellowish-grey turning pale yellowish brown on exposure. Heartwood reddish to
reddish-brown darkening on exposure. Wood somewhat lustrous, hard to very hard, usually heavy
(sp.gr.O.72 to 0.83, oven dry); mildly aromatic when fresh; interlocked-grained; usually medium to
somewhat coarse-textured; finer in texture when fast grown. Figure is often noticeable in plain sawn
boards due to parenchyma bands as well as small knots.
Gross Structure
A diffuse porous wood, with a tendency to show ring-porous ness in very slow grown trees. Growth
rings somewhat distinct, demarcated by concentric lines of parenchyma. Pores usually moderately
large, visible to the eye, occasionally small, unevenly distributed, at places solitary or in radial
multiples of 2 to 3; occasionally in clusters; round to oval, usually filled with brownish gum. Vessel
lines short and inconspicuous. Parenchyma visible to the eye, lighter in colour compared to the
background; irregularly spaced in thin tangential bands, delimiting the growth rings and vasicentric.
Rays just visible to the eyes, fine to moderately broad and widely spaced. Gum canals present in
tangential bands, containing dark contents.
A diffuse porous wood, with a tendency to show ring-porous ness in very slow grown trees. Growth
rings somewhat distinct, demarcated by concentric lines of parenchyma. Pores usually moderately
large, visible to the eye, occasionally small, unevenly distributed, at places solitary or in radial
multiples of 2 to 3; occasionally in clusters; round to oval, usually filled with brownish gum. Vessel
lines short and inconspicuous. Parenchyma visible to the eye, lighter in colour compared to the
background; irregularly spaced in thin tangential bands, delimiting the growth rings and vasicentric.
Rays just visible to the eyes, fine to moderately broad and widely spaced. Gum canals present in
tangential bands, containing dark contents.
Strength Properties
Intensive studies have not been carried out to determine either the physical or mechanical properties
of the wood. The studies of Rawat and Rawat9 on Indian neem and those undertaken in Forest
Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough (U.K.) on Sudanese neem have provided following details.
Intensive studies have not been carried out to determine either the physical or mechanical properties
of the wood. The studies of Rawat and Rawat9 on Indian neem and those undertaken in Forest
Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough (U.K.) on Sudanese neem have provided following details.
These strength data indicate that neem wood is more resistant to shock and has higher values in
shear, surface hardness, refractoriness, nail and screw holding power and strength coefficient for
door shutter as compared to teak. However, detailed studies on natural and raised plantations from
different agro climatic regions are required to establish the suitability of neem in structural
applications .
shear, surface hardness, refractoriness, nail and screw holding power and strength coefficient for
door shutter as compared to teak. However, detailed studies on natural and raised plantations from
different agro climatic regions are required to establish the suitability of neem in structural
applications .
Wood Working Quality
The timber is reported to work well with hand and machine tools. Its working properties as compared
with teak: (value 100) are as follows I5.
Best cutting angle in planing . . 25.
Ease of working . . 95
Working quality index . . 100
Chowdhury and Ghosh4 have also stated that neem wood is comparable to teak in the ease of its
sawing and working and that it can be turned on a lathe and brought to a fair finish.
The timber is reported to work well with hand and machine tools. Its working properties as compared
with teak: (value 100) are as follows I5.
Best cutting angle in planing . . 25.
Ease of working . . 95
Working quality index . . 100
Chowdhury and Ghosh4 have also stated that neem wood is comparable to teak in the ease of its
sawing and working and that it can be turned on a lathe and brought to a fair finish.
Seasoning Behaviour
According to Pearson and Brown?, the timber seasons well even when converted from green logs.
It is, however, preferable to season boards cut from green logs in open stacks, placed under cover4.
Air’ seasoning has been preferred to kiln seasoning as it creates problems during kiln seasoning. Its
drying behaviour needs to be studied more intensively. Suitable fast drying schedules are to be
developed to industrially use this wood in large quantities.
According to Pearson and Brown?, the timber seasons well even when converted from green logs.
It is, however, preferable to season boards cut from green logs in open stacks, placed under cover4.
Air’ seasoning has been preferred to kiln seasoning as it creates problems during kiln seasoning. Its
drying behaviour needs to be studied more intensively. Suitable fast drying schedules are to be
developed to industrially use this wood in large quantities.
Durability and Treatment with Preservatives
The timber is fairly durable in outside application.4 It is moderately resistant to insect attack and decay
when treated with neem oil.
Details are not available regarding treat ability with preservatives. Heartwood is refractory to
preservative treatment. Presence of gummy deposits in the vessels and presence of perforation
plates makes impregnation with chemicals very difficult.
The timber is fairly durable in outside application.4 It is moderately resistant to insect attack and decay
when treated with neem oil.
Details are not available regarding treat ability with preservatives. Heartwood is refractory to
preservative treatment. Presence of gummy deposits in the vessels and presence of perforation
plates makes impregnation with chemicals very difficult.