Wood density of young-growth western hemlock: relation to ring age, radial growth, stand density, and site quality

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (12) ◽  
pp. 2433-2442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean S DeBell ◽  
Ryan Singleton ◽  
Barbara L Gartner ◽  
David D Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Age And Growth ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Site Class ◽  
Ring Density ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Young Growth

Breast-high stem sections were sampled from 56 western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) trees growing in 15 plots representing a wide range of tree and site conditions in northwestern Oregon. Growth and wood density traits of individual rings were measured via X-ray densitometry, and relationships of ring density and its components to age and growth rate were analyzed. Ring density was highest (0.49 g/cm3) near the pith, declined to 0.40 g/cm3 at age 10, remained stable to about age 25, and then increased gradually and remained between 0.43 and 0.44 g/cm3 from age 38 to 45 and beyond. A negative influence of rapid growth on whole ring density was greatest at young ages and diminished with time, becoming nonsignificant beyond age 30. Earlywood density, latewood density, and latewood proportion were all negatively related to ring width at young ages, but by age 21-25, latewood proportion was the only component of ring density that remained significantly diminished by increased growth rate. Residual differences in wood density (after age and growth rate were considered) did not appear to be related to either stand density or site class. Overall, young-growth hemlock trees are relatively uniform in wood density and likely to be more so if grown in intensively managed stands.

Wood density of western hemlock: effect of ring width

1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 638-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey D. DeBell ◽  
John C. Tappeiner II ◽  
Robert L. Krahmer
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Latewood Density ◽  
Earlywood Width ◽  
Average Wood

Wood density of western hemlock (Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) was determined by X-ray densitometry of strips from breast-height samples consisting of rings 20–24 from the pith. Ring parameters were averaged over the 5 years for each strip. Wood density was negatively correlated with radial growth rate. Average wood density dropped from 0.47 to 0.37 g/cm3 as average ring width increased from 2 to 8 mm. Wood density decreased at higher growth rates primarily because earlywood width increased while latewood width remained the same; as a result, percentage of latewood decreased. Earlywood density decreased slightly at higher growth rates, but latewood density was not significantly related to growth rate.

scholarly journals Wood density and tracheid length of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) grafts in relation to cambium age and growth rate

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 101-107
Author(s):  
Foti Dafni ◽  
Passialis Costas ◽  
Voulgaridis Elias ◽  
Skaltsoyiannes Apostolos ◽  
Tsaktsira Maria
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Juvenile Wood ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Aleppo Pine ◽  
Age And Growth ◽  
Dry Density ◽  
Tracheid Length ◽  
Cambial Age ◽  
The Relationship

Wood density, tracheid length and growth rate were measured in Aleppo pine scions, 21–23 years old, and in Brutia pine rootstocks. In regard to the relationship between cambial age and dry density the results showed that the density increased with cambial age in both scions and rootstocks while the differences between Aleppo pine and Brutia pine were small. The relationship between cambial age and tracheid length showed an increase of tracheid length with cambial age. Differences between scions and rootstocks were small. From the last relationship it can be extracted that juvenile wood is produced in both scions and rootstocks although the Aleppo pine branches which were used for grafting were genetically matured. Between ring width and dry density and between ring width and tracheid length no statistical correlations were found either in scions or in rootstocks. The tracheid length in mature wood was higher than in juvenile wood. An increase of tracheid length with ring width was observed only in the case of juvenile wood.

Influence of Growth Rate and Cambial Age on Density of Rauli (Nothofagus nervosa) in Relation to Vessel Lumen Areas and Numbers

Holzforschung ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Denne ◽  
C. M. Cahalan ◽  
D. P. Aebischer
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Wood Quality ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Substantial Effect ◽  
Present Sample ◽  
Vessel Lumen ◽  
Cambial Age ◽  
Old Trees ◽  
Nothofagus Nervosa

Summary To assess the likely effects of silvicultural treatment on the wood quality of Nothofagus nervosa grown in the UK, and the possibilities of independent selection within seed origins for density and growth rate, ring width and wood density were analysed from pith to bark of 19 trees. Variations in vessel lumen size, vessel number mm−2, and total lumen area mm−2 were analysed in ten trees. Since density increased by only 0.005g cm−3 per mm increase in ring width, silvicultural practices such as initial spacing and thinning are not likely to have a substantial effect on the wood density of rauli. Similarly, variation in density with cambial age was significant but relatively minor in the 40- and 60-year old trees of the present sample, suggesting that the rotation length is unlikely to have any practical influence on the density of rauli. Considerable between-tree differences in density were found which did not correspond to differences in ring width, suggesting it should be feasible to select independently for density and growth rate. These differences in density were associated with differences in both vessel lumen size and vessel number mm−2

scholarly journals Effects of live crown on vertical patterns of wood density and growth in Douglas-fir

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara L Gartner ◽  
Eric M North ◽  
G R Johnson ◽  
Ryan Singleton
Keyword(s):  
Wood Density ◽  
Juvenile Wood ◽  
Growth Ring ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Mature Wood ◽  
Node Number ◽  
Growth Ring Width ◽  
Residual Variation ◽  
Wide Range

It would be valuable economically to know what are the biological triggers for formation of mature wood (currently of high value) and (or) what maintains production of juvenile wood (currently of low value), to develop silvicultural regimes that control the relative production of the two types of wood. Foresters commonly assume the bole of softwoods produces juvenile wood within the crown and mature wood below. We tested that assumption by comparing growth ring areas and widths and wood density components of the outer three growth rings in disks sampled from different vertical positions of 34-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees. The 18 trees were sampled from one site and had a wide range of heights to live crown. Most of the variance (63–93%) in wood characteristics (growth ring area: total, earlywood, latewood; growth ring width: total, earlywood, latewood; latewood proportion: by area, width; and ring density: total, earlywood, latewood) was due to within-tree differences (related to age of the disk). Stepwise regression analysis gave us equations to estimate wood characteristics, after which we analyzed the residuals with a linear model that included whether a disk was within or below the crown (defined as the lowest node on the stem with less than three live branches). After adjusting for tree and disk position, only 2–10% of the residual variation was associated with whether the disk was in or out of the live crown. There were no statistically significant differences at p = 0.05 between a given disk (by node number) in versus out of the crown for any of the factors studied. Moreover, the wood density characteristics were not statistically significant at p = 0.30. This research suggests that there was no effect of the crown position on the transition from juvenile to mature wood as judged by wood density. Therefore, we found no evidence to support the concept that tree spacing and live-branch pruning have a significant effect on the cambial age of transition from juvenile to mature wood in Douglas-fir trees of this age.

Measurement and simulation of dwarf mistletoe infection of second-growth western hemlock on southern Vancouver Island

1982 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 280-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Bloomberg ◽  
R. B. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Vancouver Island ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
Infection Level ◽  
Infection Age ◽  
Second Growth

Infection of western hemlock (Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) residual overstory and second-growth understory by hemlock dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobiumtsugense (Rosendahl) G.N. Jones) was analyzed in seven plots on southern Vancouver Island. The number of infections in residual trees ranged from 373 to 4058 and in second-growth trees from 3 to 455. The number in second-growth trees was significantly correlated positively with dbh and tree height and inversely with height/dbh ratio. The percentage of crown length infected varied significantly among plots and was significantly correlated with the number of infections. Vertical distribution of infections in tree crowns did not conform to test distributions; distribution by infection age approximated the Poisson. The range in infection age varied according to height in green crown and length of green crown infected. Mortality of infections varied significantly among plots and was greatest in lower slope sites and least in a drier upper slope site. Proportion of dead infections was a function of height in crown and total length of green crown infected. Data suggest that infection level in second-growth trees was proportional to the number of residuals and was inversely related to percent nonhost species, stand density, and growth rate. The number of infections predicted by a simulation model averaged 107% of the number recorded in residual trees and 128% in second-growth trees. Curves of predicted vertical distribution of infections in crowns were of the same shape as those recorded in plot sample trees. The predicted average age-class distribution of infections approximated Poisson distribution within the same probability range as recorded in plot sample trees. The predicted average dbh of residual and second-growth trees were 90 and 97%, respectively, of the recorded values; predicted average heights were 115 and 101%, respectively, of recorded values. Infection predicted by the model over a range of hypothetical stand, site, and infection conditions was used to elucidate major epidemiological factors that might bear on silvieultural control. Results confirmed the observed effects of number of residuals, stand composition, growth rate, and stand density on infections.

Growth rate effects on correlations among ring width, wood density, and mean tracheid length in Norway spruce (Picea abies)

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Dutilleul ◽  
Marc Herman ◽  
Tomas Avella-Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Picea Abies ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Main Hypothesis ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Tracheid Length ◽  
Rate Effects ◽  
Tree Approach

The main hypothesis tested in this paper is whether heavy thinnings affect the correlations among ring width, wood density, and mean tracheid length. Within-tree correlations were calculated between time series of yearly measurements. Among-tree correlations were computed (1) between averages over a growing period and (2) year by year. Correlations were analyzed on 20 fast-grown and 20 slow-grown Norway spruces (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) from an even-aged, plantation-grown stand near Rendeux, Belgian Ardennes. In the within-tree approach, fast-grown spruces showed a stronger negative correlation between ring width and fiber length. In among-tree approach 1, the widely held negative correlation between ring width and wood density vanished when the spruce growth rate was above 2.2 cm/year in circumference. Among-tree approach 2 demonstrated that the magnitude and sign of the correlations also depended on the year; a few years showed a significant correlation between ring width and wood density for the fast-grown Norway spruces, whereas the correlation was systematically negative and significant on many years for the slow-grown spruces. This study may explain part of the contradictory results reported in the literature concerning hypotheses similar to ours.

Effects of timing and intensity of thinning on wood structure and chemistry in Norway spruce

Holzforschung ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuula Jyske ◽  
Seija Kaakinen ◽  
Urban Nilsson ◽  
Pekka Saranpää ◽  
Elina Vapaavuori
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Wood Structure ◽  
Wood Chemistry ◽  
Thinning Intensity ◽  
Thinning Operations ◽  
Treatment Onset

AbstractThe effects of thinning intensity on wood structure and chemistry of Norway spruce [Picea abies(L.) Karst.] have been studied in a long-term thinning experiment established in the 1960s in south-western Sweden. The experiment comprised datasets of unthinned control trees and trees of four thinning treatments, in which thinning operations of different intensities were carried out. These thinning operations were applied either once, three, or five times over the course of the stand rotation. Thinning intensities varied from 0% to 60% based on the stand basal area (BA) before thinning: (A) 5×20% (i.e., 20% of the BA removed five times); (B) 3×40% (i.e., 40% of the BA removed three times); (C) 1×60% (i.e., 60% of the BA removed once); and (D) 5×40% (i.e., 40% of the BA removed five times). Altogether 60 trees that were 67 years old were sampled 38 years after the treatment onset. Radial growth rate, wood density, tracheid properties, and the chemical composition of wood were studied in detail. All four thinning treatments increased growth rate and decreased wood density; however, treatment D showed the greatest change. Single, heavy thinning in treatment C resulted in unfavourable intra-stem variation in ring width and wood density. No significant differences in tracheid properties and wood chemistry were found between the treatments. We conclude that only a remarkable increase in growth rate would induce detrimental changes in tracheid properties and wood chemistry in the context of thinning.

Effects of release from suppression on wood functional characteristics in young Douglas-fir and western hemlock

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 2038-2046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi J Renninger ◽  
Barbara L Gartner ◽  
Frederick C Meinzer
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Growth Ring ◽  
Specific Conductivity ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Wood Properties ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Growth Ring Width

Little is known of wood properties in trees that were initially suppressed and subsequently released from suppression. The purpose of this study was to assess differences in growth ring width, specific conductivity (Ks), tracheid dimensions, moisture content, and wood density in suppressed Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) trees and trees released from suppression averaging 12–18 years of age. Growth ring width was 370% higher for Douglas-fir and 300% higher for western hemlock trees released from suppression, and Ks was 182% higher for Douglas-fir and 42% higher for western hemlock trees released from suppression. Earlywood width was approximately four times greater after release in both species, whereas the relative increase in latewood width was much greater in Douglas-fir. Tracheids were 25% wider and 11% longer in released Douglas-fir trees. In western hemlock, released trees had 19% wider tracheids that were approximately the same length as those in suppressed trees. Moisture content was 66% greater in released Douglas-fir and 41% greater in released western hemlock. Wood density decreased by 21% in Douglas-fir trees and by 11% in western hemlock trees released from suppression. However, wood density of released trees did not differ from average reported values, implying that wood from released trees may be suitable for many of its traditional applications.

Young-growth western hemlock stand infection by Heterobasidionannosum 11 yearsm after precommercial thinning

1980 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. D. Chavez Jr. ◽  
R. L. Edmonds ◽  
C. H. Driver
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Radial Growth ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Infection Level ◽  
Precommercial Thinning ◽  
Animal Damage ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Young Growth

Infection level and course of spread of Heterobasidionannosum (Fr.) Bref, in a 26-year-old western hemlock(Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) stand, precommercially thinned 11 years previously, was determined. Impact of infection on height and radial growth of western hemlock was also examined. Tree infection increased from a mean of 8% initially, to an average of 90% in the residual trees. Stump colonization accounted for 61% of the tree infection by H.annosum, with stumps within 61 cm of the remaining trees providing most of the inoculum. The fungus also entered through animal damage wounds. Growth rate of H. annosum was estimated at 75 cm/year with a range of 23–128 cm/year. Although there was no significant difference between infected and uninfected trees in height or radial growth, infected trees had less height and slightly more radial growth than uninfected trees.

Population age structures, persistence and flowering cues in Cerberiopsis candelabra (Apocynaceae), a long-lived monocarpic rain-forest tree in New Caledonia

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Jennifer Read ◽  
Gordon D. Sanson ◽  
Martin Burd ◽  
Kathryn Allen ◽  
Quan Hua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Tree Size ◽  
Age And Growth ◽  
Mass Flowering ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Age Structures

Abstract Cerberiopsis candelabra Vieill. is a long-lived, monocarpic (= semelparous) and mass-flowering rain-forest tree, endemic to New Caledonia. Population size structures suggest establishment has been episodic, followed by a recruitment gap that might signal population decline. Here, we use age structures based on tree rings to better assess population dynamics and persistence, and investigate influences of tree size, age and growth rate on flowering. Age structures of populations surveyed in 2007–2008 were unimodal, with establishment over c. 15–81 y, followed by a recruitment gap of c. 23–79 y. Seedling mortality was generally high. High densities of flowering trees or large-scale exogenous disturbances may be necessary for in-situ regeneration. There was no evidence of a simple flowering threshold: flowering in 2017 occurred across a wide range of tree size, age and growth rate. Instead, evidence suggested that size and age at flowering may vary among plants depending on their growth trajectory. Environmental triggers of flowering were not identified by dating tree establishment, but the last three mass-flowering events occurred in years of tropical cyclones. Regeneration and persistence might be facilitated if large-scale disturbances trigger flowering, improving reproductive efficiency by synchronising flowering and linking reproduction with environmental conditions that enhance seedling recruitment.

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