Fuelwood characteristics of some tropical trees of India

Twenty-two species growing in their natural habitat in Indian forests were collected and fuelwood properties viz. calorific value, ash, density, silica, moisture, carbon, nitrogen and volatile matter were determined and the Fuel Value Index (FVI) calculated to screen desirable species for potential production of fuelwood on marginal lands. The present study revealed that Osmanthus fragrans, Quercus incana, Machilus odoratissma, Lagertroemia indica and Punica granatum have the best fuelwood qualities among the species examined. The other species have calorific value within the acceptable limit except for Zanthoxylum alatum and Grewia tiliaefolia.