Wood Properties of Poplar from Stand Affected by Acid Rain

Wood properties from 28 trees (Populus euramericana) selected from healthy and acid rain damaged forest were measured to evaluate the possible impacts on wood quality and utilization. On the heavily damaged location, the pH value of precipitation ranged from 3.7-5.0, and sulfate loading ranged from 20-40 kg·ha-2.y-1. Quantitative and qualitative studies on ring width, physical properties and mechanical properties indicated that changes of wood properties between diseased and healthy poplar occurred. Acid rain suppressed growth increment of trees in damaged forest. Comparing with healthy poplar, ring width of diseased poplar reduced significantly. The water content across the steni area differed enormously between diseased and healthy poplar. The deficiency in water of sapwood from diseased poplar was associated with a decrease of sapwood portion. Basic density of wood from diseased poplar reduced significantly. No significant difference in cellulose, pentosan and lignin were found between diseased and

Wood Properties of Poplar from Stand Affected by Acid Rain