Basic wood properties of European larch from fast-growth plantations in eastern Canada

A number of basic wood quality characteristics were evaluated in 10 European larch (Larixdecidua Mill.) trees, 5 from each of two rapidly growing plantations in eastern Ontario (approximately 30 years old) and western Quebec (approximately 25 years old). Characteristics evaluated included growth rate, relative density, fibre dimensions, longitudinal shrinkage, alcohol–benzene and water-soluble extractives, and Klason lignin. Radial and longitudinal patterns of variation in wood characteristics were examined and particular attention was given to the distribution of juvenile wood within the stems. Extractive contents were more closely related to the extent of heartwood and sapwood in the stems than to differences between juvenile and mature wood. Relative density was generally lower at the centre of the stem than in the mature outer wood, but the change was usually gradual, with no distinct boundary between juvenile and mature wood zones. The most useful characteristic for delimiting the juvenile wood zone appeared to be longitudinal shrinkage. On this basis, the transition from juvenile to mature wood occurs at about 15 rings out from the pith at breast height. Ranking of individual trees for wood density was judged to be reliable at about 7 years of age at this height level.

Download Full-text

Wood properties of exotic larch grown in eastern Canada and north-eastern United States

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc71639-5 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 71 (5) ◽

pp. 639-646 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Y. H. Chui ◽

Glenda MacKinnon-Peters

Keyword(s):

Fiber Length ◽

Cold Water ◽

Wood Properties ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Extractive Content ◽

Eastern United States ◽

Larix Leptolepis ◽

European Larch ◽

Eastern Canada ◽

North Eastern

The rapid growth performance of exotic larch such as Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis (Sieb. et Zucc) Gord.) and European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) has attracted the attention of the forestry sector in eastern Canada and north-eastern United States for lumber and pulp production. While growth performance of these species in North America has been well documented, little is known with regards to their wood properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the primary lumber grade yields, mechanical properties, fiber length, specific gravity and cold-water soluble extractives of larch from plantations in Maine, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Samples were obtained from a Japanese (age 31), three European (age 17, 34 and 63) and one Japanese × European hybrid (age 22-27) larch stands. It was found that the structural grade yields of these species were relatively low because of the influence of knots. The mechanical properties (modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity) of the mature European larch appeared to be comparable with published data for some native softwood species. Fiber length, specific gravity and cold-water soluble extractive content of all samples were similar to those found for other softwood species which are used for pulp production. Fiber length of the juvenile wood of European larch was significantly shorter than that of mature wood. Extractive content was highest in newly formed heartwood. Contrary to common belief, extractive content in young trees may not be low. Key words: Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis Gord.), European larch (Larix decidua Mill.), European × Japanese hybrid (Larix eurolepis), Wood properties, Lumber yields

Download Full-text

Phenotypic Correlations among Growth and Selected Wood Properties in White Spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) †

Forests ◽

10.3390/f10070589 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 589 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Cyriac S. Mvolo ◽

Ahmed Koubaa ◽

Jean Beaulieu ◽

Alain Cloutier ◽

Maurice Defo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Properties ◽

Picea Glauca ◽

Radial Growth ◽

Juvenile Wood ◽

Wood Properties ◽

Mature Wood ◽

Ring Density ◽

Tracheid Length ◽

Latewood Density ◽

Anatomical Properties

We examined phenotypic relationships among radial growth-related, physical (i.e., related to wood density), and anatomical (i.e., related to tracheid dimensions) wood properties in white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), in order to determine the strength and significance of their correlations. Additionally, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to establish if all of the properties must be measured and to determine the key properties that can be used as proxies for the other variables. Radial growth-related and physical properties were measured with an X-ray densitometer, while anatomical properties were measured with a Fiber Quality Analyzer. Fifteen wood properties (tracheid length (TL) and diameter (TD), earlywood tracheid length (ETL) and diameter (ETD), latewood tracheid length (LTL) and diameter (LTD), ring width (RW), ring area (RA), earlywood width (EWW), latewood width (LWW), latewood proportion (LWP), ring density (RD), intra-ring density variation, earlywood density (EWD), and latewood density (LWD)) were assessed. Relationships were evaluated at intra-ring and inter-ring levels in the juvenile wood (JW) and mature wood (MW) zones. Except for a few cases when mature tracheid diameter (TD) was involved, all intra-ring anatomical properties were highly and significantly correlated. Radial growth properties were correlated, with stronger relationships in MW compared to JW. Physical properties were often positively and significantly correlated in both JW and MW. A higher earlywood density coupled with a lower latewood density favored wood uniformity, i.e., the homogeneity of ring density within a growth ring. Managing plantations to suppress trees growth during JW formation, and enhancing radial growth when MW formation starts will favor overall wood quality. In order, RW-EWW-RA, TL-ETL-LTL, and RD-EWD-LWP are the three clusters that appeared in the three wood zones, the whole pith-to-bark radial section, the juvenile wood zone, and the mature wood zone.

Download Full-text

Wood quality in artificially inclined 1-year-old trees of Eucalyptus regnans — differences in tension wood and opposite wood properties

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x11-016 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 41 (5) ◽

pp. 930-937 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Shakti S. Chauhan ◽

John C.F. Walker

Keyword(s):

Tension Wood ◽

Wood Quality ◽

Basic Density ◽

Wood Properties ◽

Acoustic Velocity ◽

Volumetric Shrinkage ◽

Longitudinal Shrinkage ◽

Eucalyptus Regnans ◽

New Approach ◽

Opposite Wood

This paper presents a new approach to assess wood quality in 1-year-old Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell. Twenty-two seedlings were grown tilted to induce tension wood and acoustic velocity, basic density, longitudinal shrinkage, and volumetric shrinkage of both opposite wood and tension wood were assessed subsequently. Longitudinal growth strains were also estimated in the leaning stems by sawing along the length through the pith and measuring the bending of the two halves. The derived longitudinal growth strain, which varied from 708 to 2319 µε, was uncorrelated with stem and wood characteristics. Wood characteristics differed significantly between upper-side wood (predominantly tension wood) and lower-side wood (opposite wood). Tension wood was characterized by a higher acoustic velocity (high stiffness), basic density, and volumetric shrinkage compared with opposite wood. Tension wood also exhibited significant collapse and dimensional distortion such as twisting. Longitudinal shrinkage exhibited a significant negative relationship with acoustic velocity in opposite wood and a positive relationship with the basic density in tension wood. This new approach has potential in early selection of breeding material with superior normal wood properties from 1-year-old material by isolating the influence of tension wood. This approach can also be useful in understanding the variability in propensity of tension wood production in breeding populations.

Download Full-text

Inheritance of density, microfibril angle, and modulus of elasticity in juvenile wood of Pinus radiata at two locations in Australia

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x07-061 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 37 (11) ◽

pp. 2164-2174 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Brian S. Baltunis ◽

Harry X. Wu ◽

Mike B. Powell

Keyword(s):

Genetic Correlation ◽

Pinus Radiata ◽

Modulus Of Elasticity ◽

Juvenile Wood ◽

Wood Quality ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Microfibril Angle ◽

Wood Properties ◽

Quality Traits ◽

Selection For

A total of 1640 increment cores from 343 radiata pine ( Pinus radiata D. Don) families were sampled at two second-generation progeny trials, aged 6 and 7 years, for a detailed genetic study of juvenile wood quality traits. Density, microfibril angle (MFA), and modulus of elasticity (MOE) were determined from pith to bark using SilviScan® technology. Heritability was greatest for area-weighted density at the two sites (0.63 and 0.77, respectively), and the lowest for growth traits (<0.23). Genotype by environment interaction was low for all three wood quality traits. A positive genetic correlation between density and MOE (0.43), and a highly negative, and therefore, favourable genetic correlation between MFA and MOE (–0.92) were observed, implying that improvement of multiple juvenile wood properties is possible. The genetic correlations between whole-core wood quality traits and individual-ring measurements suggest that improvement for juvenile wood properties across the entire profile of the corewood including the innermost rings can be achieved. However, density, MFA, and MOE had unfavourable genetic correlations with diameter growth suggesting that selection for increased density and MOE, and reduced MFA in the absence of selection for growth will result in a genetic loss for growth rate.

Download Full-text

Yield and Wood Properties of 25-year-old Japanese Larch of Different Provenance in Eastern Canada

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc64475-6 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 64 (6) ◽

pp. 475-479 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

D. P. Fowler ◽

J. D. Simpson ◽

Y. S. Park ◽

M. H. Schneider

Keyword(s):

Wood Properties ◽

Japanese Larch ◽

European Larch ◽

Annual Increment ◽

Eastern Canada ◽

Yield Data ◽

Old Japanese ◽

The Mean ◽

Pattern Of Variation ◽

Mean Annual Increment

Yield data from a 25-year-old trial of Japanese larch (20 provenances), European larch (3 provenances) and tamarack (2 provenances) are presented. Japanese larch is genetically variable in volume of wood produced at age 25 years. The pattern of variation is not closely related to any commonly measured geographic or environmental variables.Japanese larch, managed over short rotations, is capable of producing two to three times more wood than other conifer species commonly planted in the Maritimes Region of Canada. The mean annual increment of merchantable wood for trees of the three best provenances at age 25 years is about 12 m3/ha per year, while that of the poorest provenance is about the same as for European larch and tamarack, 4 m3/ha per year. Japanese larch wood sawed, dried and machined well. It appears suited for general construction use and may be eligible for a stress grade.

Download Full-text

Density of juvenile and mature wood of selected coniferous species

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/18/2010-jfs ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 57 (No. 3) ◽

pp. 123-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

V. Gryc ◽

H. Vavrčík ◽

K. Horn

Keyword(s):

Wood Density ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Juvenile Wood ◽

Ring Width ◽

Mature Wood ◽

European Larch ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Coniferous Species ◽

The Mean ◽

The Difference

The objective of research was to determine the density of juvenile (JW) and mature wood (MW) of selected coniferous species growing in the Czech Republic. The research included the wood of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and European larch (Larix decidua Mill.). The juvenile wood density close to the pith was 410 kg·m–3 for spruce, 391 kg·m–3 for pine and 573 kg·m–3 for larch with 12% water content. Mature wood in the peripheral parts had the higher density in all species – spruce 516 kg·m–3, pine 552 kg·m–3 and larch 652 kg·m–3. The highest difference, the difference of 161 kg·m–3, between juvenile and mature wood was found out in Scots pine. The large difference in the wood density of pine is caused by a considerable difference in the mean ring width of its juvenile and mature wood. Further, it was proved that wood density decreases with the increasing ring width while wood density increases with the increasing proportion of latewood.

Download Full-text

Differences in wood properties between juvenile wood and mature wood in 10 species grown in China

Wood Science and Technology ◽

10.1007/s002260100099 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 363-375 ◽

Cited By ~ 77

Author(s):

F. C. Bao ◽

Z. H. Jiang ◽

X. M. Jiang ◽

X. X. Lu ◽

X. Q. Luo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Juvenile Wood ◽

Wood Properties ◽

Mature Wood

Download Full-text

Geographical variation in wood properties of Larixlaricina juvenile wood in northern Ontario

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x87-106 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 17 (7) ◽

pp. 648-653

Author(s):

K. C. Yang ◽

G. Hazenberg

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Specific Gravity ◽

Juvenile Wood ◽

Wood Properties ◽

Lower Latitude ◽

Northern Ontario ◽

Average Growth ◽

Tracheid Length ◽

Level Of Significance ◽

Individual Trees

Growth rate, latewood ratio, specific gravity, and tracheid length of Larixlaricina (Du Roi) K. Koch juvenile wood were studied with two 12-mm increment cores extracted at breast height from 240 healthy trees from 12 locations at a range in latitude from 46 to 56° N in northern Ontario. Ten trees were selected from each stand and two stands were chosen from each location. Univariate analyses of variance indicated that growth rate and latewood of juvenile wood varied significantly in various locations, stands, and trees at the α = 0.01 level of significance. Growth rate of juvenile wood decreased from a lower latitude to a higher latitude, whereas latewood ratios displayed a reverse trend, i.e., a higher latewood ratio was found at a higher latitude. Specific gravity of juvenile wood varied significantly in individual trees. Tracheid length varied significantly among locations, stands, and trees. The overall average growth rate, tracheid length, and specific gravity are 1.29 mm per ring, 2.10 mm, and 0.43, respectively. An unexpected relationship was found between growth rate and tracheid length. Growth rate of juvenile wood has a positive relationship with tracheid length and an inverse relationship with specific gravity.

Download Full-text

Analysis of coniferous species to identify and distinguish juvenile and mature wood

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/78/2013-jfs ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 60 (No. 4) ◽

pp. 143-153 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. Nawrot ◽

W. Pazdrowski ◽

R. Walkowiak ◽

M. Szymański ◽

K. Kaźmierczak

Keyword(s):

Juvenile Wood ◽

Wood Products ◽

Mature Wood ◽

Raw Material ◽

Forest Trees ◽

European Larch ◽

Coniferous Species ◽

Novel Method ◽

Good Identification

We conducted to describe methods used to differentiate the zones of juvenile and mature wood in stems of coniferous species and to present the importance of good identification of the shares of both types of wood to ensure a rational use of the raw material and final quality of wood products. This study describes in more detail a novel method to separate the juvenile and mature wood tissue in stems of European larch using cluster analysis in the form of the k-means algorithm. Moreover, guidelines were also shortly described for forest management which could result in a reduction of the share of juvenile wood in stems of forest trees.  

Download Full-text

Impact of spacing on tracheid length, relative density, and growth rate of juvenile wood and mature wood in Piceamariana

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x94-130 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 24 (5) ◽

pp. 996-1007 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

K.C. Yang ◽

G. Hazenberg

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Relative Density ◽

Boundary Point ◽

Juvenile Wood ◽

The Other ◽

Mature Wood ◽

Average Growth ◽

Tracheid Length ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

Ten 38-year-old trees of Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P., grown at each of three spacings (1.8 × 1.8, 2.7 × 2.7, and 3.6 × 3.6 m), at Stanley, 30 km west of Thunder Bay, Ont., were used to study the impact of spacing on growth rate, relative density, and tracheid length of juvenile and mature wood. Increment cores of 12 mm diameter were extracted from the south aspect of each tree at breast height. The boundary of juvenile and mature wood was demarcated by the variation in tracheid length, which varied among trees from ring 11 to 21. Average growth rate, relative density, and tracheid length were obtained between the pith and boundary point (juvenile wood) and beyond the boundary point (mature wood). Differences between the levels of spacing for the three response variables in both juvenile and mature wood were tested using contrasts. Properties of juvenile and mature wood were found to be affected differently by the plantation spacing. Juvenile wood has a faster growth rate and shorter fibres than mature wood. Relative density was similar in both wood zones. The growth rate in juvenile wood was found to be significantly different among the spacing levels. For mature wood, only the growth rate at the 3.6 × 3.6 m spacing was significantly different from the other two spacing levels. The highest relative density, 0.39, in both juvenile and mature wood was found at the 1.8 × 1.8 m spacing. No significant difference in the relative density between the two wider spacings was observed. At the widest spacing, the relative density was 8% lower than that at the 1.8 × 1.8 m spacing. The longest fibre lengths were found at the intermediate 2.7 × 2.7 m spacing, 2.05 mm in juvenile wood and 2.94 mm in mature wood. Tracheid lengths of the 3.6 × 3.6 m spacing were significantly shorter than those of the other two spacings. The relative density and tracheid length of plantation grown wood were lower than those of natural grown wood by at least 5% for relative density and 33% for tracheid length.

Download Full-text