Variability in The Chemical Composition of Plantation Eucalypts (Eucalyptus Globulus Labill.)

The chemical composition was determined for plantation-grown Eucalyptus globulus Labill., at time of harvest for pulpwood, with age 11-14 years, in four different locations and for the biomass components bolewood. bolebark, tops, and branches.Chemical composition showed variation between trees and between geographical location, and variability was significantly larger for cellulose content. Average wood composition was: ash 0.4%, total extractives 4.9%, insoluble lignin 19.5%, soluble lignin 3.6%, cellulose 54.0%, pentosans 18.9% (% of o.d. weight). Wood carbohydrate composition was determined for one site; glucose with 49.4% and xylose with 19.1% are the main monosaccharides. Within the tree, biomass components also showed different chemical compositions, especially in ash, extractives, and cellulose contents and in 1% NaOH solubility