LAUSR

ABSTRACT Cork growth and quality were characterised in eight cork oak stands within the production area of Oran (Oranie, Fr) (North-West, Algeria), based on a field sampling on 75 trees/stand. Cork thickness was on average 26.50 mm, with 44% of the samples in the commercial classes unsuitable for production of stoppers. The annual average cork growth for a production cycle with 10 complete growth years was 2.43 mm. For this region, a production cycle of 12 years is not adequate for raw-material industrial requirements. The aspect of cork is characterised by 11 intrinsic and extrinsic defects. The average density of cork is 256.77 kg/m3 and the porosity, measured by image analysis, 4.6%. The quality of cork according to the Instituto de Promocion de Corcho (IPROCOR) standards categorises the thin cork as the most-valued product, intended for the manufacture of the discs. This is in conformity with the slow growth of cork in this region.