Pertumbuhan dan Pendugaan Kualitas Kayu Mahoni (Swietenia mahagoni) di Arboretum Universitas Sumatera Utara dan di PT. Hairos Sumatera Utara

Abstract

Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) is a fast-growing species. At the age of 7 to 15 years, it has grown large and can be cut down for timber. The advantages of mahogany wood are strength, durability, affordability compared to teak wood, and tiny pores. This study aims to analyze tree growth and estimate the quality of mahogany wood at the Universitas Sumatra Utara's Arboretum and PT. Hairos in North Sumatra. Sampling was conducted through a census. Growth characteristics measured included stem diameter, total height, branch-free height, and crown diameter. The number of mahogany trees was 536 at the Universitas Sumatra Utara's Arboretum and 237 at PT. Hairos. The average growth measurements in the Arboretum were a stem diameter of 0.36 m, a total height of 13.52 m, a branch-free height of 3.29 m, and a crown diameter of 4.00 m. The average growth measurements in PT. Hairos was a stem diameter of 0.31 m, a total height of 10.06 m, a branch-free height of 4.03 m, and a crown diameter of 3.80 m. Wood quality estimation was conducted by testing the physical properties of core samples, including moisture content, specific gravity, and density. The average measurement results for the physical properties of wood in the Arboretum were 66.61% moisture content, 0.46 gr/cm3 specific gravity, and 0.76 gr/cm3 density. The average measurement results for the physical properties of wood at PT. Hairos were 72.51% moisture content, 0.46 gr/cm3 specific gravity, and 0.77 gr/cm3 density. The growth and quality of wood at each study location varied. Growth characteristics and wood quality estimations at the Arboretum have different average results from PT. Hairos