Influence of forest stand characteristics on physical, mechanical properties and chemistry of chestnut wood

AbstractSite conditions and forest management affect dendrometric parameters of chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) coppices, but there is modest knowledge on the effect of stand dendrometric characters on physical and mechanical wood characteristics. The aim of this study was to verify these relationships in chestnut coppices that were 12–14 years old. Wood density, compression and bending strength, shrinkages were measured on shoots of five different stand in a vulcanic site in Monte Amiata (Central – Italy). Investigated stands differ in number of stools/ha and dominant height, diameter/basal area of the shoots. The main difference in the physical characters among the stands is density. The initial results of the study showed that physical, mechanical wood characters are more dependent by the shoot than by the site. There is a positive relationships between the number of stools/ha and density and a negative one among shoot dominant height and basal area with wood density. Spectroscopic profile by FTIR has not showed relevant differences among the stands. Wood anatomy has showed the breakpoint at cellular level.

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Physical and mechanical wood properties of ring-shaken chestnut (Castanea sativa) trees

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/cjfr-2012-0357 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 200-207 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

M. Romagnoli ◽

S. Spina

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Bending Strength ◽

Central Italy ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Castanea Sativa ◽

Wood Properties ◽

Geographic Area ◽

Lazio Region ◽

Cambial Age ◽

Castanea Sativa Mill

Ring shake is a defect that strongly affects chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) use and its occurrence is known to be mainly related to mechanical stress within a tree; however, few investigations have compared the physico-mechanical properties of healthy and shaken trees. Hence, the aim of this study is to compare the density, compression strength, bending strength (MOR), and shrinkages between healthy and shaken trees in coppice stands. The investigation was carried out in the Lazio Region in central Italy in trees with a cambial age between 6 and 25 years. The results showed that shaken trees had lower mechanical strength and shrinkages than healthy ones and that the physico-mechanical parameters might be used to predict ring shake occurrence in a specific geographic area. Geographical location strongly affected the physico-mechanical properties of the chestnut wood, and this factor influenced ring shake occurrence. MOR value was assumed to be the parameter that could be applied at almost all study sites to distinguish between shaken and healthy trees. There was no difference between the shaken and healthy portions of a disk inside the same tree.

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A Multi-Technique Approach to Evaluate the Surface Properties of Heat-Treated Chestnut Wood Finished with a Water-Based Coating

Coatings ◽

10.3390/coatings11060706 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 706

Author(s):

Claudia Pelosi ◽

Gianluca Rubino ◽

Giuseppe Capobianco ◽

Luca Lanteri ◽

Giorgia Agresti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Treatment ◽

Surface Properties ◽

Central Italy ◽

Colour Change ◽

Treated Wood ◽

Castanea Sativa ◽

Heat Treated ◽

Water Based ◽

Chestnut Wood ◽

Thermally Treated

The aim of the present work is to investigate the surface properties and the effect of a water-based coating on chestnut wood (Castanea sativa Mill.), both untreated and thermally treated. Chestnut is very common throughout the Mediterranean region and its wood is widely used as timber, especially in Central Italy, to build window fixtures and doors which have to be decay-resistant, even in historical buildings. Traditional techniques have been used in combination with Hyperspectral Imaging which had never been used before to examine thermally treated wood. Specifically, colour, roughness, micro-hardness, wear and contact angle measurements have been performed on untreated and thermally treated chestnut wood, covered by a commercial water-based coating named Idrolinfo. Hyperspectral analysis has been demonstrated to be appropriate to discriminate the heat treatment and the presence of the water-based product. The applied techniques showed that the best performances are obtained with the 170 °C heat treatment. The water-based coating demonstrated its validity when applied to untreated and heat-treated wood at 140 °C and 170 °C. The main findings showed that chestnut wood increased or maintained its properties if treated at those temperatures without undergoing a major colour change, acquiring good hydrophobicity, both if uncoated or treated with the water-based coating.

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Monitoring natural stand change in the forest reserve of Liedekerke, Flanders (Belgium)

Silva Gandavensis ◽

10.21825/sg.v64i0.824 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 64 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

D. Van den Meersschaut ◽

B. De Cuyper ◽

K. Vandekerkhove ◽

N. Lust

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Castanea Sativa ◽

Basal Area ◽

Alnus Glutinosa ◽

Indigenous Species ◽

Stem Number ◽

Mature Trees ◽

Forest Reserve ◽

Natural Stand ◽

Sweet Chestnut

Natural stand changes in the forest reserve of Liedekerke were analysed during the period 1986-1996, using a permanent grid of circular plots. The monitoring concentrated on natural changes in species composition, using stem number and basal area as indicators, and changes in spatial distribution and colonization capacities of trees and shrubs, with special interest in the competition between exotic and indigenous species. After only a decade of monitoring important natural changes in the woody layer were detected. The pioneer forest is gradually maturing through self-thinning processes and shifts in species composition. The overall stem number decreased with 33.6%, while the basal area increased with 20.9%. Birch (Betula pendula/ pubescens) and indigenous oak (Quercus robur/petraea) remained dominant. More tolerant exotic species, like red oak (Quercus rubra) and sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), are slowly increasing their share in the species composition and expanding their range. Pioneer species on the other hand, like aspen (Populus tremula), willow (Salix capreaicinerealaurita), alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus) and common (Alnus glutinosa) and grey alder (A. incana), strongly declined. Black cherry (Prunus serotina) seems to be slowly invading the forest due to its massive natural regeneration. Strong competition may be expected especially from rowan ash (Sorbus aucuparia), which showed similar regeneration and colonization capacities. Elder (Sambucus nigra) dramatically extented its range, though its share remains marginal. Beech remained absent most probably due to the lack of mature trees in the vacinity of the forest. Finally this change detection allowed that general predictions could be made on the future natural development and composition of this forest reserve, which could serve forest management decisions.

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A Dynamic Stand Growth Model System for Loblolly Pine Responding to Mid-Rotation Treatments

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12050556 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 556

Author(s):

Mauricio Zapata-Cuartas ◽

Bronson P. Bullock ◽

Cristian R. Montes ◽

Michael B. Kane

Keyword(s):

Growth Model ◽

Loblolly Pine ◽

Basal Area ◽

Model System ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Site Quality ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Plantation Management ◽

Vegetation Control ◽

Dominant Height

Intensive loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation management in the southeastern United States includes mid-rotation silvicultural practices (MRSP) like thinning, fertilization, competitive vegetation control, and their combinations. Consistent and well-designed long-term studies considering interactions of MRSP are required to produce accurate projections and evaluate management decisions. Here we use longitudinal data from the regional Mid-Rotation Treatment study established by the Plantation Management Research Cooperative (PMRC) at the University of Georgia across the southeast U.S. to fit and validate a new dynamic model system rooted in theoretical and biological principles. A Weibull pdf was used as a modifier function coupled with the basal area growth model. The growth model system and error projection functions were estimated simultaneously. The new formulation results in a compatible and consistent growth and yield system and provides temporal responses to treatment. The results indicated that the model projections reproduce the observed behavior of stand characteristics. The model has high predictive accuracy (the cross-validation variance explained was 96.2%, 99.7%, and 98.6%; and the prediction root mean square distance was 0.704 m, 19.1 trees ha−1, and 1.03 m2ha−1 for dominant height (DH), trees per hectare (N), and basal area (BA), respectively), and can be used to project the current stand attributes following combinations of MRSP and with different thinning intensities. Simulations across southern physiographic regions allow us to conclude that the most overall ranking of MRSP after thinning is fertilization + competitive vegetation control (Fert + CVC) > fertilization only (Fert) > competitive vegetation control only (CVC), and Fert + CVC show less than additive effect. Because of the model structure, the response to treatment changes with location, age of application, and dominant height growth as indicators of site quality. Therefore, the proposed model adequately represents regional growth conditions.

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Extraction Methods and Their Influence on Yield When Extracting Thermo-Vacuum-Modified Chestnut Wood

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12010073 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 73

Author(s):

Maurizio D’Auria ◽

Marisabel Mecca ◽

Maria Roberta Bruno ◽

Luigi Todaro

Keyword(s):

Catalyst Support ◽

Castanea Sativa ◽

Extraction Methods ◽

Extraction Technique ◽

Extraction Techniques ◽

Surface Color ◽

Ms Analysis ◽

Castanea Sativa Mill ◽

Molybdenum Catalysts ◽

Chestnut Wood

Improvements in the yield and solubility of chestnut wood extractives, by using different extraction methods and molybdenum catalysts as support, have rarely been reported in literature. Many studies focus on the different parts of trees, except for the chemical characteristics of the remaining extractives achieved from thermally modified (THM) chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill) wood. This research seeks to better understand the effects of extraction techniques and catalysts on the yield and solubility of extractives. GC-MS analysis of the chloroform soluble and insoluble fractions was also used. Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) 110 °C, Soxhlet, and autoclave extraction techniques were used to obtain extractives from untreated and thermally modified (THM) chestnut wood (170 °C for 3 h). Ethanol/H2O, ethanol/toluene, and water were the solvents used for each technique. A polyoxometalate compound (H3PMo12O40) and MoO3 supported on silica were used as catalysts. The THM induced a change in the wood’s surface color (ΔE = 21.5) and an increase in mass loss (5.9%), while the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) was reduced by 17.4% compared to the control wood. The yields of the extractives and their solubility were always higher in THM and mainly used ASE as the technique. GC-MS analysis of the extractives, without catalyst support, showed different results for each extraction technique and type of wood (untreated and THM). Ultimately, the amount of extractive compound dissolved in each solvent will differ, and the choice of extraction technique will depend on the intended final application of the extracted chemical product.

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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CHESTNUT WOOD QUALITY (CASTANEA SATIVA MILL.)

Acta Horticulturae ◽

10.17660/actahortic.2008.784.22 ◽

2008 ◽

pp. 147-150 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J.L. Louzada ◽

M.E. Silva ◽

S.B. Castro ◽

S.P. Oliveira ◽

J. Morais

Keyword(s):

Comparative Study ◽

Wood Quality ◽

Castanea Sativa ◽

Castanea Sativa Mill ◽

Chestnut Wood

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Dietary effects of oregano (Origanum vulgaris L.) plant or sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) wood extracts on microbiological, chemical-physical characteristics and lipid oxidation of cooked ham during storage

Italian Journal of Food Safety ◽

10.4081/ijfs.2015.5497 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

David Ranucci ◽

Dino Miraglia ◽

Massimo Trabalza-Marinucci ◽

Gabriele Acuti ◽

Michela Codini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Listeria Monocytogenes ◽

Chemical Composition ◽

Ph Value ◽

Control Diet ◽

Castanea Sativa ◽

Microbial Count ◽

B Values ◽

Sweet Chestnut ◽

Cooked Ham ◽

Chestnut Wood

The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary effect of feeding pigs with diets enriched with sweet chestnut wood (Castanea sativa Mill.) or oregano (Origanum vulgaris L.) extract on the microbiological and chemical characteristics of cooked pork ham. Three groups of 10 pigs were fed with a control diet (CTRL), with the CTRL diet enriched with 0.2% of oregano extract (OR) and with the CTRL diet enriched with 0.2% of sweet chestnut wood extract (SCW), respectively. Six cooked hams per group were produced, sliced and packaged under a modified atmosphere (N2:CO2=80:20) and stored at refrigeration temperature (4±1°C). Three packages per cooked ham were sampled for analyses at three different storage times (0, 10 and 20 days). At day 0 time, antioxidant capacity of the products (ORACFL assay) and chemical composition were performed. At each sampling time, from all the samples the following analyses were performed: Total Microbial Count (TMC), Lactic Acid Bacteria count (LAB), Enterobacteriaceae count, Listeria monocytogenes, pH value, colour coordinates (L*, a*, b*), total basic volatile nitrogen (TBVN) and thio-barbituric reactive substances (TBARs) determinations. No differences in TMC, LAB and Enterobacteriaceae count, pH, TBVN, chemical composition and L* values were registered between the three groups at all the sampling times considered. No Listeria monocytogenes was detected in the samples tested. Significant differences were registered for ORACFL at 0 days, a* and b* values and TBARs value at 10 and 20 days of storage, with higher values for ORACFL, a* and b* values and lower values for TBARs in SCW and OR than CTRL. No antimicrobial effect could be recorded for OR and SCW but a higher oxidative stability, also highlighted by the colour maintenance, was observed in both OR and SCW.

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Physicochemical Properties of Honey from Marche, Central Italy: Classification of Unifloral and Multifloral Honeys by Multivariate Analysis

Natural Product Communications ◽

10.1177/1934578x1400901117 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 1934578X1400901 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Cristina Truzzi ◽

Silvia Illuminati ◽

Anna Annibaldi ◽

Carolina Finale ◽

Monica Rossetti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electrical Conductivity ◽

Physicochemical Properties ◽

Robinia Pseudoacacia ◽

Central Italy ◽

Physicochemical Characterization ◽

Castanea Sativa ◽

Principal Component ◽

Pattern Recognition Methods ◽

Multifloral Honey

The purpose of this study was the physicochemical characterization and classification of Italian honey from Marche Region with a chemometric approach. A total of 135 honeys of different botanical origins [acacia ( Robinia pseudoacacia L.), chestnut ( Castanea sativa), coriander ( Coriandrum sativum L.), lime ( Tilia spp.), sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.), Metcalfa honeydew and multifloral honey] were considered. The average results of electrical conductivity (0.14 – 1.45 mS cm−1), pH (3.89 – 5.42), free acidity (10.9 – 39.0 meqNaOH kg−1), lactones (2.4 – 4.5 meqNaOH kg−1), total acidity (14.5 – 40.9 meqNaOH kg−1), proline (229–665 mg kg−1) and 5-(hydroxy-methyl)-2-furaldehyde (0.6–3.9 mg kg−1) content show wide variability among the analysed honey types, with statistically significant differences between the different honey types. Pattern recognition methods such as principal component analysis and discriminant analysis were performed in order to find a relationship between variables and types of honey and to classify honey on the basis of its physicochemical properties. The variables of electrical conductivity, acidity (free, lactones), pH and proline content exhibited higher discriminant power and provided enough information for the classification and distinction of unifloral honey types, but not for the classification of multifloral honey (100% and 85% of samples correctly classified, respectively).

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Applications of GIS-Based Software to Improve the Sustainability of a Forwarding Operation in Central Italy

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12145716 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (14) ◽

pp. 5716

Author(s):

Rodolfo Picchio ◽

Francesco Latterini ◽

Piotr S. Mederski ◽

Damiano Tocci ◽

Rachele Venanzi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Compaction ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Central Italy ◽

Castanea Sativa ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Pinus Nigra ◽

Satellite System ◽

Second Phase ◽

Precision Forestry

Reducing potential soil damage due to the passing of forest machinery is a key issue in sustainable forest management. Limiting soil compaction has a significant positive impact on forest soil. With this in mind, the aim of this work was the application of precision forestry tools, namely the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Geographic Information System (GIS), to improve forwarding operations in hilly areas, thereby reducing the soil surface impacted. Three different forest study areas located on the slopes of Mount Amiata (Tuscany, Italy) were analyzed. Extraction operations were carried out using a John Deere 1410D forwarder. The study was conducted in chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) coppice, and two coniferous stands: black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) and Monterey pine (Pinus radiata D. Don). The first stage of this work consisted of field surveys collecting data concerning new strip roads prepared by the forwarder operator to extract all the wood material from the forest areas. These new strip roads were detected using a GNSS system: specifically, a Trimble Juno Sb handheld data collector. The accumulated field data were recorded in GIS Software Quantum GIS 2.18, allowing the creation of strip road shapefiles followed by a calculation of the soil surface impacted during the extraction operation. In the second phase, various GIS tools were used to define a preliminary strip road network, developed to minimize impact on the surface, and, therefore, environmental disturbance. The results obtained showed the efficiency of precision forestry tools to improve forwarding operations. This electronic component, integrated with the on-board GNSS and GIS systems of the forwarder, could assure that the machine only followed the previously-planned strip roads, leading to a considerable reduction of the soil compaction and topsoil disturbances. The use of such tool can also minimize the risks of accidents in hilly areas operations, thus allowing more sustainable forest operations under all the three pillars of sustainability (economy, environment and society).

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A tomographic approach to assessing the possibility of ring shake presence in standing chestnut trees

European Journal of Wood and Wood Products ◽

10.1007/s00107-020-01591-0 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 78 (6) ◽

pp. 1137-1148

Author(s):

Andrea R. Proto ◽

Maria F. Cataldo ◽

Corrado Costa ◽

Salvatore F. Papandrea ◽

Giuseppe Zimbalatti

Keyword(s):

Wood Quality ◽

Castanea Sativa ◽

Widespread Phenomenon ◽

Applied Approach ◽

Tomographic Data ◽

Local Company ◽

Tropical Climates ◽

Tomographic Measurement ◽

Non Destructive ◽

Chestnut Wood

Abstract Ring shake is a widespread phenomenon affecting a great number of species of both softwood and hardwood and is found in trees grown in temperate and tropical climates. Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) represents one of the most important hardwood timbers that is very often affected by ring shake. This defect seems to be the only real limit to the spread and use of chestnut wood worldwide on a scale closer to the availability of this wood. The aim of this study was to examine the potential of tomographic measurement as a non-destructive method for predicting the possibility of the presence of ring shake in standing chestnut trees. For this reason, the experiments were carried out in a chestnut coppice stand where one hundred chestnut standards were monitored using an acoustic tomographic device, and subsequently harvested by a local company and cross-sectioned corresponding to the acoustic tests. This work proposed an applied approach to predicting and determining wood quality (sound wood vs. defective wood) from tomographic data. The model, based on a non-linear approach, showed that sonic tomography can identify ring shake in a tree trunk without affecting its biological activity, overcoming the difficulties of predicting ring shake using only visual inspection.

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