Vol. 9 No. (2): 8 - 14 (2018): ENERGY VALUE AND RELATED PROPERTIES OF CHRIST’S THORN (Ziziphus spinaChristi)(L.) Desf.

The stems and roots of phenerophytes are made of a porous and fibrous structural tissue
that are strong in tension and embedded in matrix of lignin that resist compression. Wood is
fibrous material used for biofuel or timber in addition to being used as pulp for making
paper. A fresh wood sample of Ziziphus spina-Christi (Christ’s thorn) was taken from
Buskuri open savanna woodland and tested for moisture content, calorific value, combustion
rate and its coppicing ability measured. The study showed that the moisture content at the
time of energy determination was found to be 5.62 percent and the calorific value of 15.33
Mj/Kg was recorded. The results also revealed that in eight minutes, the temperature of the
wood sample reached 450oC and temperature above 100oC was retained for a period of
22minutes. The species was found to coppice at the rate of 155cm per annum. An urgent
need to stop cutting Ziziphus spina-Christi for fuel wood and the need for further research
on the wood properties of the same species for enhanced diversification of utilization were
recommended.