ENHANCING LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA WOOD PRESERVATION BY STEEPING IT IN BORON COMPOUNDS AND ACETIC ACID TO PROTECT AGAINST TERMITES

Abstract

This study compared steeping Leucaena leucocephala woodwith boron compounds andacetic acidto protect it from termites(Coptotermes gestroi).The experiment had acompletely randomized designwith 10 treatments involving three wood preservatives (acetic acid, boron compounds, and mixtures of both),three treatment lengths (1, 12, and 24 h),and untreated wood, with five replicates of each for a total of 50 conditions. The moisture content of thewood and the wood destroyed by termites were assessed. The L.leucocephalawood treated with boron compounds for 1 h resulted increase in moisture contentand no termite damage.