Clonal variation in selected wood anatomical properties and specific gravity of eucalyptus tereticornis sm. from two localities in Karnataka

A native of Australia and the East Indies, Eucalyptus was introduced to many parts of the world and today ranks as one of the most ubiquitous trees. Eucalyptustereticornis Sm. known as Mysore gum in India is one of the most extensively cultivated Eucalypt species to meet the ever increasing demand of paper and pulp, and wood based industries. The supply to the wood based industries has always fallen short of their requirements. Due to shortage of raw materials from forests, industries have started their own plantations. Clonal technology has proved to increase the productivity. Like ITC Bhadrachalam clones in Andhra Pradesh, in Karnataka, Grasim industries, a unit of Harihar Polyfibres has raised the clonal material for increasing the productivity to meet the demand for paper and pulp industries. The present study involves clonal variation in selected wood anatomical properties and specific gravity of two-four year old clones of Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. raised in farmer’s field under irrigated (Mandya) and rainfed (Kolar) conditions. Clonal material raised under rainfed conditions showed higher specific gravity compared to irrigated conditions.