Effects of site on fibre, kraft pulp and handsheet properties of Eucalyptus globulus

Eight-year old trees from two Eucalyptus globulus Labill. clones planted across three different sites in Tasmania, Australia, were sampled for wood and kraft pulp/handsheet properties. Site had a significant effect on all measured properties. Compared with the poor site (Parkham) the wood from the good site (West Ridgley) had on average 11% lower wood density. The poor site had also greater microfibril angles, shorter fibres at lower pulp yields. The handsheets produced with pulp from the poor site resulted in comparatively higher bulkiness, lower burst, lower tear and tensile indices, lower zero span tensile strength, but higher opacity, higher light scattering and higher surface roughness. Significant height effects were found with all wood properties, and also with tear index, zero span tensile strength and opacity. Discriminant analysis showed that for 76 out of 100 handsheets the raw material source, i.e. growth site, could be predicted correctly using a set of handsheet properties with tear index and bulk index being most prominent. This is unique evidence that site conditions are strongly reflected in handsheet properties produced from Eucalyptus pulp.