Mineralogy and quality of the cork according to the to the brushwood status in the oak cork forest of M'Sila (North-West of Algeria)

Abstract

Cork is the bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber L.), it is a renewable product of a sustained value, and it is biodegradable and recyclable. Its use is diversified and its global demand is highly prized. The perfect knowledge of its various components allows better management of the species in the forest and in industry since it is marketed according to its visual quality. The present word studies the mineral composition of cork from 60 trees from two different natural environments, one is scrubby and the other is not scrubbed. The quality of the cork on the sample trees and the quality indices were estimated by the coveless. Analysis of variance of the mineral composition revealed that phosphorus and magnesium are attached to the underwood condition. On the other hand, only the potassium content significantly contributes to the cork quality classification and in lesser degrees the phosphorus. The growth complexity of the species and its genetic variability strengthen its great adaptation regardless of the vegetative conditions of the environment.