ECOLOGICAL INFLUENCE ON WOOD PROPERTY VARIATIONS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF Terminalia leiocarpa IN SAVANNAH ZONE OF KEBBI AND OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Terminalia leiocarpa (UIH-23677) is an important timber species in West Africa, widely used for structural and fuel purposes. In northern Nigeria, there is heavy reliance on timber from southern region due to perception of superior quality. However, variations in wood properties across different habitats suggest that no single site should be relied upon without proper evaluation. Information on wood properties of T. leiocarpa grown in Kebbi state would expand its utilisation and reduce over exploitation of southern timber resources. This study examines how ecological variation in Savannah zone of Kebbi and Oyo State influence chemical architecture of its wood. Three matured trees (DBH=26.75±0.5cm) were each felled from Kebbi and Oyo state, sawdust samples of size 180 μm were obtained from three axial positions (base, middle and top) of each tree, and the study quantified alpha cellulose, acidic lignin, extractive, ash content and hemicellulose using ASTM and TAPPI standard procedures. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α0.05. Cellulose, lignin and ash content were highest at base 46.13±0.07, 26.78±0.13, 1.05±0.02 (Kebbi) and 44.29±0.02, 24.62±0.06, 0.93±0.01 (Oyo) and lease at top 43.13±0.07, 22.55±0.02, 0.93±0.01 (Kebbi) and 43.46±0.01, 22.16±0.05, 0.58±0.02 (Oyo), respectively. Terminalia leiocarpa wood from Kebbi is significantly richer in cellulose (44.65%), more lignified (24.46%), extractives (4.26%), and ash content (0.99%) than wood from Oyo state. Conversely, hemicellulose level was significantly higher in Oyo (29.75%). Terminalia leiocarpa grown in Kebbi exhibited superior chemical properties indicating enhanced durability, strength and more resistant to biological degradation, making them more suitable for structural application, fuelwood and outdoor uses.