USE OF THE COCONUT PALM STEM

Source: Jensen and Killmann, 1981
Depending on its oven-dry density, coconut wood can be segregated into three different groups (Figure 3):

High density timber (HD)
(> 0.6 g/cm³)
Timber from lower periphery of stem. Can be used for load-bearing structural purposes, framing, flooring, staircases, tool handles, furniture.

Medium density timber (MD)
(0.4 – 0.59 g/cm³)
Timber from upper stem periphery and lower middle section. Used for limited load-bearing structural purposes, furniture, wall-panelling, curios.

Low density timber (LD)
(< 0.4 g/cm³ )
Timber from core sections. Indoor use only, where no load is applied, e.g. wall-panelling.

Fig. 3: Cross section of coconut palm stem with density zones

Source:Sulc, 1984, 1

Only when palms are over 60 years of age (that is, when the copra yield declines, and they are of less interest to the farmer), is enough “wood” built up and therefore of use to the sawmiller. This implies that there is no conflict between the use of the palm for its primary production (oil and fat) and the later stem use for timber. On the contrary: the use of the timber generates a windfall profit to the farmer.
It also implies that only stems of tall varieties can be used for timber, not those of dwarf varieties.
The percentage of the various density groups per stem depends on variety, site, age, sweep of palm, human impact (harvesting step, Figure 4), and the extent of fungus and insect damage.
Sources FAO Report, Assessed on 21 February 2016