Physical and morphological characterization of eucalyptus wood (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.) from seaside windbreaks belts in Central Italy

Abstract

In the 1950s and 1960s, Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees were planted in the Lazio region (Central Italy) as windbreaks to protect crops. Nowadays, a maintenance plan has been implemented to manage these windbreak systems, resulting in a significant quantity of wood, currently used almost exclusively as biomass for energy. This study aims to explore the potential of this material for higher-value applications in industries beyond energy production. To this end, we conducted a classical technological characterization to establish preliminary knowledge of the physical, mechanical, and anatomical properties of E. camaldulensis specimens obtained from the management of windbreak belts in Tarquinia (Central Italy). The assessment considered radial and axial variations and compared the results with those of other Eucalyptus species to evaluate possible industrial uses. Physical characterisation included density, basic density, and radial, tangential, and volumetric shrinkages. Mechanical tests measured axial compression strength, bending strength, and hardness. Anatomical analysis examined fibre dimensions (length and diameter) and the proportions of heartwood, sapwood, and bark. The average density was 734 kg/m³ (12% MC) and the basic density was approximately 620 kg/m³. In general, the density seemed to increase with the increasing distance from the ground. Radial and tangential shrinkage were 5.6% and 8.7%, respectively; compression strength averaged 49.4 ± 7.9 MPa, bending strength 84.5 ± 22.8 MPa and hardness 30 MPa. Fibres length and diameter averaged 886 µm and 19 µm, respectively. A decrease in fibre diameter was observed with increasing distance from the ground, coupled with an increase in slenderness ratio. These characteristics suggest the feasibility of an alternative cascade use of the material, highlighting its potential applications beyond energy production.