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The use of coconut husk sawdust and tomato stem particles at varying blending proportion was examined for the production of particle board. Boards of dimensions 350 mm by 350 mm by 6 mm were produced (coconut husk dust, tomato stem particles) at different blending proportion and addition of additive (CaCl2 at different concentrations). The physical properties (water absorption and thickness swelling) and mechanical properties (modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE)) were investigated. Thickness swelling and water absorption were investigated at 24 and 48 hours. The results showed that boards exhibited mean values of 0.50% to 4.16% and 2.12% to 7.00% respectively of thickness swelling at 24 hours and 48 hours respectively and 13.6% to 25.2% and 17.6% to 29.1% of water absorption at 24 h and 48 h, respectively. The boards also exhibited means of 1.00 N/mm2 to 5.25 N/mm2 and 339 N/mm2 to 3430 N/mm2 for MOR and MOE respectively. An increase in the tomato particle content caused increase in water absorption and thickness swelling, resulting in the highest water absorption and thickness swelling values. Tomato stem and coconut husk dust can be used to produce cement bonded boards after pre-treatment with hot water and preferably both sieved.

Declining availability of the prime economic species in the Nigerian timber market has led to the introduction of Lesser-Used Species (LUS) as alternatives. Their acceptability demands information on the technical properties of their wood. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical properties of Ficus vallis-choudae to determine its potential for timber. Three mature Ficus vallis-choudae trees were selected and harvested from a free forest area in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Samples were collected from the base (10%), middle (50%), and top (90%) along the sampling heights of each tree, which was further partitioned into innerwood, centrewood, and outerwood across the sampling radial position. Investigations were carried out to determine the age, density, moisture content, impact strength, modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, compressive strength parallel-to-grain, and shear strength parallel-to-grain. The mean impact bending strength, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, maximum shear strength parallel-to-grain, and maximum compression strength parallel-to-grain for Ficus vallis-choudae at 12% moisture content were 20.4 N/mm2, 85.8 N/mm2, 709 N/mm2, 10.7 N/mm2, and 33.6 N/mm2, respectively. The study found the species to be dense with high strength properties in comparison with well-known timbers used for constructional purposes.