Fungal and termite attack resistance of wood treated with Chamaecrista nigricans plant ash-water solution

Abstract

This study assessed the preservative effect of Chamaecrista nigricans ash-water solution against fungus and termite attacks. Thirty-five wood stakes, 20×20×100 mm were prepared and dipped in the ash-water solution for 24 hours. To assess variation in the ash contents on fungus and termite attacks, the ash content was varied from 0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% by weight of the water and denoted as A₀, B₂, B₄, B₆ and B₈ respectively. The stakes were exposed to damped environment for 28 days, and termites tunnel for 14 days and tested. Similar steady decrease in weight loss by the stakes in the two exposed environments with increased ash addition was observed. It is evident that by adding 8% ash in the solution, decay/decomposition through fungus and termite attacks will be reduced by 93.6% and 82.5% respectively. The study concludes that 8% Chamaecrista nigricans plant ash could be used as wood preservative.