RESEARCH CONCERNING THE COMPRESSION STRENGTH OF NEEM (Azadirachta indica A. Juss)

Michael AKPAN
Senior Lecturer, Dr. - Federal University of Technology, Yola, Dept. of Forestry and Wildlife Management
Address: P.M.B. 2076, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria
E-mail: michaelakpn@yahoo.com

Babatola Olufemi
Assoc.Prof., Dr. - Federal University of Technology, Akure, Dept. of Forestry and Wood Technology
Address: P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
E-mail: olufemibabatola@yahoo.com

Vandu Vandu APAGU
Assoc.Prof., Dr. - Federal University of Technology, Yola, Dept. of Technology Education
Address: P.M.B. 2076, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria
E-mail: vanduhevanduapagu@yahoo.w.uk

Fati Ahmed MAUNDE
Lecturer - Federal University of Technology, Yola, Dept. of Agricultural Engineering
Address: P.M.B. 2076, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria
E-mail: fatimaun@yahoo.com

Abstract:
A pioneer effort is made in this study to evaluate the compression strength of Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) wood with the hope of ascertaining its utility as structural timber. Three study locations were randomly selected from defined vegetation zones of north eastern Nigeria for the study. These are Maiduguri (Sahel savanna), Yola (Sudan savanna) and Bauchi (Guinea savanna). Both the compression strengths parallel and perpendicular to grain were examined by testing clear-wood specimens. The test-data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistics, in order to test for the level of significance of compression strength between the sampled trees, their sections, and the vegetation zones. Results showed that at mean moisture content of 18%, the neem tree has average compression strength parallel to grain of 65.19 N/mm2, while that of the perpendicular to grain is 13.94 N/mm2. The ANOVA showed highly significant differences between the zones, trees, and their sections at 1% level of probability (P<0.01) for compression perpendicular. Similarly, highly significant differences were recorded between the zones, and trees (P<0.01)for compression parallel, while their tree sections showed only significant difference at 5% level of probability (P<0.05). Findings also revealed that neem wood compression strengths compare favourably with those of local wood species used for structural timber in Nigeria. Thus, neem wood could be suitable for structural application.

Key words: compression strength parallel to grain, compression strength perpendicular to grain, neem wood, moisture content, structural timber, vegetation zones.