Ash content of loblolly pine wood as related to specific gravity, growth rate, and distance from pith

In earlywood of Pinus taeda L. grown in central Louisiana, ash content generally decreased with increasing distance from the pith and increased with increases in rate of tree growth (as measured in rings per inch). Latewood ash content was unrelated to the gross wood factors of distance from the pith, specific gravity, and growth rate. The ash content of earlywood was higher (average 0.430 percent) than the ash content of latewood (average 0.389 percent).