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.

Wood density in Norway spruce: changes with thinning intensity and tree age

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 1767-1778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuula Jaakkola ◽  
Harri Mäkinen ◽  
Pekka Saranpää
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Thinning Intensity ◽  
Individual Tree Growth ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Individual Trees

The effect of thinning intensity on growth and wood density in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) was investigated in two long-term thinning experiments in southeastern Finland. The stands were approaching maturity, and their development had already been studied for 30 years. The intensities of thinning were low, normal, and high (i.e., the stand basal area after the thinning was, on average, 40, 27, and 24 m2·ha–1, respectively, in Heinola, and 30, 28, and 17 m2·ha–1 in Punkaharju, respectively). Compared with the low thinning intensity, the normal and high thinning intensities increased the basal-area increment of individual trees by 52% and 68%, respectively. Normal and high thinning intensities resulted in a relatively small reduction (1%–4%) of mean ring density compared with low thinning intensity. The random variation in wood density between and within trees was large. About 27% of the total variation in wood density was related to variation between rings. Our results indicate that the prevailing thinning intensities in Norway spruce stands in Fennoscandia cause no marked changes in wood density. At least, the possible reduction in wood density is low compared with the increase in individual tree growth.

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

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.

Wood Structure and Growth Ring Width of Vital and Non-Vital Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga Menziesii) from a Single Stand in the Netherlands

IAWA Journal ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 309-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid de Kort
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Ring ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Wood Structure ◽  
Growth Reduction ◽  
External Appearance ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Growth Ring Width ◽  
C 50

A comparison was made of diameter growth and wood structure in 26 trees of Douglas fir of different vitality cJasses in a decJining, c. 50- years old stand in De Peel (southeastern Netherlands). Ring width patterns agree cJosely but not perfectly with vitality cJasses as estimated by external appearance of the crown. The 'diseased' vitality cJasses all show growth reductions over the last 20 to 30 years. In the most diseased cJass no wood had been formed at all at the stern base over the last 4 to 10 years. The onset of growth reduction may be connected with the effect of air pollution in the last 40 to 50 years. The most striking result was the inverse relationship between growth rate in the first 10 to 15 years of growth, and growth rate in the last decades: all trees which are healthy at present showed slow radial growth when young, and all diseased to dead trees exhibited fast growth in their youth.

scholarly journals RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLIMATE VARIABLES, TRUNK GROWTH RATE AND WOOD DENSITY OF Eucalyptus grandis W. Mill ex Maiden TREES

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 337-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Roberto Sette Jr ◽  
Mario Tomazello F ◽  
José Luis Lousada ◽  
Domingos Lopes ◽  
Jean Paul Laclau
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Eucalyptus Grandis ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Cambial Activity ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Diameter Growth ◽  
Climate Variables ◽  
Trunk Diameter

ABSTRACT Climatic conditions stimulates the cambial activity of plants, and cause significant changes in trunk diameter growth and wood characteristics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of climate variables in the diameter growth rate of the stem and the wood density of Eucalyptus grandis trees in different classes of the basal area. A total of 25 Eucalyptus trees at 22 months of age were selected according to the basal area distribution. Dendrometer bands were installed at the height of 1.30 meters (DBH) to monitor the diameter growth every 14 days, for 26 months. After measuring growth, the trees were felled and wood discs were removed at the DBH level to determine the radial density profile through x-ray microdensitometry and then re-scale the average values every 14 days. Climatic variables for the monitoring period were obtained and grouped every 14 days. The effect of the climate variables was determined by maximum and minimum growth periods in assessing trunk growth. These growth periods were related with precipitation, average temperature and relative air humidity. The re-scaled wood density values, calculated using the radial growth of the tree trunks measured accurately with steel dendrometers, enabled the determination of the relationship of small changes in wood density and the effect of the climatic variations and growth rate of eucalyptus tree trunks. A high sensitivity of the wood density to variation in precipitation levels was found.

Modelling survival probability of individual trees in Norway spruce stands under different thinning regimes

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kjell Karlsson ◽  
Lennart Norell
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Goodness Of Fit Test ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Thinning Intensity ◽  
Diameter At Breast Height ◽  
Breast Height

The probability that an individual tree will remain in even-aged Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands subjected to different thinning programmes was modelled, using data from a thinning experiment established in 25 localities in southern Sweden. A logistic regression approach was used to predict the probability and the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test to evaluate the fit. Diameter at breast height (DBH), quadratic mean DBH, thinning intensity, thinning quotient, basal area, number of stems per hectare, stand age, number of thinnings, and site index were used as explanatory variables. Separate analyses for stands thinned from below, stands thinned from above, and unthinned stands were performed. The modelled probability graphs for trees not being removed, plotted against their diameter at breast height, had clear S-shapes for both unthinned stands and stands thinned from below. The graph for stands thinned from above was bell-shaped.

The influence of drought on red oak group species growth and mortality in the Missouri Ozarks

1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1119-1127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Jenkins ◽  
Stephen G. Pallardy
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
High Mortality ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Lower Mortality ◽  
Red Oak ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Group Species

The effects of drought on growth of red oak group species were studied by examining basal area increment and ring width index patterns of dominant Quercuscoccinea Muenchh. (scarlet oak) and Quercusvelutina Lam. (black oak) trees sampled in 1990–1991 on 62 continuous forest inventory plots located across the southeastern Missouri Ozark Mountains. Trees of both species were older on plots that had suffered high mortality and showed post-1979 reductions in growth rate compared with trees growing on low-mortality plots. Quercuscoccinea trees from high-mortality plots that were dead at the time of sampling exhibited a distinct flattening in growth rate after the mid-1930s, although death did not occur for many years. Severe droughts in 1980 and 1986–1988 were associated with further accentuated reductions in growth rate in dead trees. Dead Q. coccinea that had grown on plots with lower mortality showed comparable reductions in basal area index and similar post-1979 growth patterns, but the departure in basal area index between living and dead trees occurred 2 decades later and was associated with a severe drought during 1953–1956. Additionally, dead trees on lower mortality plots grew faster than living trees for many years before the 1953–1956 drought, suggesting that rapid early growth rates may predispose trees to early death under certain conditions. The ring width index chronologies of both species growing on high- and low-mortality plots were significantly correlated with Palmer drought severity index values, further emphasizing that drought has an important influence on growth of red oak group species in the Missouri Ozarks. Analysis of first differences of ring width index chronologies indicated that severe drought had an additional persistent effect involving long-term reductions in the sensitivity of growth to climate. The results are consistent with previously hypothesized mechanisms of stand dieback and emphasize the role of severe droughts in predisposing trees to eventual death.

Effect of ring width, cambial age, and climatic variables on the within-ring wood density profile of Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) Karst.

Trees ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 913-925 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Franceschini ◽  
Fleur Longuetaud ◽  
Jean-Daniel Bontemps ◽  
Olivier Bouriaud ◽  
Benoît-Damien Caritey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Density Profile ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Climatic Variables ◽  
Cambial Age

Growth, wood chemistry, and fibre length of Norway spruce in a long-term nutrient optimization experiment

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 410-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seija Kaakinen ◽  
Riikka Piispanen ◽  
Satu Lehto ◽  
Johanna Metsometsä ◽  
Urban Nilsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Southern Sweden ◽  
Wood Chemistry ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Annual Ring Width ◽  
Lignin Concentration

The study was performed as part of a nutrient optimization experiment at Asa in southern Sweden. The experiment was established 1987, in a Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stand planted in 1975. In the nutrient optimization treatment (IL), all essential macro- and micronutrients were supplied, with irrigation water, every second day during the growing season. In October 2003, nine trees were harvested on both untreated control and IL plots. The IL treatment increased annual ring width during the first years of the experiment by ca. 30% and cumulative cross-sectional area 1.5-fold by the end of the experiment. Tracheid length was, however, not affected by the IL treatment. The nitrogen concentration of wood increased and starch concentration decreased as an effect of the IL treatment, suggesting that carbon was allocated to growth rather than storage. The IL treatment increased lignin concentration of wood by 3.4%. Chemical composition varied at different heights along the stem, but with no apparent trend.

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