Classification of Picea abies Pulpwood According to Wood and Stand Properties

Different classification systems for Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) pulpwood were compared. The classification systems were applied on truckloads or single logs in southern Sweden. Truckload classification according to mean annual growth ring width gave better separation of the wood properties basic density, juvenile wood and dry matter content, than classification according to harvest type (first thinning, later thinning or final felling). The assortments did not have significantly different wood brightness. Sorting at log level according to diameter, mean annual growth ring width or number of annual growth rings, which could be done at harvesting, did not drastically improve differentiation of the mean values of the wood properties or reduce variance compared to truckload classification. The variation in wood properties within assortments remained large owing to the large variation in wood properties between and within logs. Substantial reduction in dry matter variation could be achieved by truckload classification during the summer.     

Comparison of two harvesting systems for the production of forest biomass from the thinning of Picea abies plantations

Abstract

This study compares two principally different harvesting systems used for the thinning of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] plantations in the Alps. The first system was whole-tree harvesting (WTH), producing only whole-tree chips for energy purposes. This system minimizes the production costs by simplifying the harvesting process. The other system was cut-to-length (CTL) mechanical harvesting with an excavator-based harvester. This system maximizes value recovery by producing both short sawlogs and quality fuel chips. Trials were conducted on two similar sites in the Dolomites, in northern Italy, and demonstrated that the CTL system resulted in slightly higher harvesting costs, and also higher revenue. The price differences between the different products determine which system offers the best economic results. If the delivered price of sawlogs does not exceed [euro]25 t^?1, WTH and CTL harvesting offer very similar economic performances, and become profitable only if the delivered price of raw chip wood exceeds [euro]40 t^?1. If the delivered price of sawlogs increases to [euro]50 t^?1, the mechanized CTL system always becomes preferable, and it will turn some profits when the price of raw biomass exceeds [euro]35 t^?1. The CTL system is less sensitive to long extraction and transport distances than the WTH system.     

Impacts of initial stand density and thinning regimes on energy wood production and management-related CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> emissions in boreal ecosystems

An ecosystem model (Sima) was utilised to investigate the impact of forest management (by changing both the initial stand density and basal area thinning thresholds from current recommendations) on energy wood production (at energy wood thinning and final felling) and management-related carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions for the energy wood production in Finnish boreal conditions (62°39′ N, 29°37′ E). The simultaneous effects of energy wood, timber and C stocks in the forest ecosystem (live and dead biomass) were also assessed. The analyses were carried out at stand level during a rotation period of 80 years for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) growing in different fertility sites. Generally, the results showed that decreased basal area thinning thresholds, compared with current thinning, reduced energy wood (logging residues) and timber production, as well as carbon stocks in the forest ecosystem. Conversely, increased thinning thresholds increased energy wood production (ca. 1–27%) at both energy wood thinning and final felling and reduced CO₂ emissions (ca. 2–6%) related to the production chain (e.g. management operations), depending on the thinning threshold levels, initial stand density, species and site. Increased thinning thresholds also enhanced timber production and carbon stocks in the forest ecosystem. Additionally, increased initial stand density enhanced energy wood production for energy wood thinning for both species, but this reduced energy wood production at final felling for Scots pine and Norway spruce. This study concluded that increases in both initial stand density and thinning thresholds, compared with the current level, could be useful in energy wood, timber and carbon stocks enhancement, as well as reducing management-related CO₂ emissions for energy wood production. Only 2.4–3.3% of input of the produced energy (energy wood) was required during the whole production chain, depending on the management regime, species and sites. However, a comprehensive substitution analysis of wood-based energy, in respect to environmental benefits, would also require the inclusion of CO₂ emissions related to ecosystem processes (e.g. decomposition).     

Influence of Log Characteristics on Drum Debarking of Pulpwood

Properties of 200 poorly debarked softwood logs were studied in order to examine how different log characteristics affect drum debarking of mixed pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst] pulpwood during the summer. The definition of a poorly debarked log and the sampling criterion was that >10 dm² bark remained on the log surface. The average share of poorly debarked logs was 8% and the most frequent log type was breakage logs. The main species among the poorly debarked logs was spruce and the mean wood moisture content was considerably lower than for the pulpwood chips. Many logs were affected by root rot or were damaged by harvesting equipment, resulting in reduced moisture content and, consequently, in increased bark/wood shear strength. Bark from the poorly debarked logs contributed to approximately 68% of the bark content in the chips. By avoiding air-drying of pulpwood, or by sorting pulpwood prior to debarking, the bark content in chips might be substantially reduced, which would improve the purity of the pulp and decrease production costs.     

Effects of thinning and fertilization on wood properties and economic returns for Norway spruce

The effects of silviculture on wood and tracheid properties, and economic returns of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) were investigated in two case studies, one comparing different thinning intensity in southeastern Finland and the other considering the effects of optimal nutrient addition in northern Sweden. Models for predicting the wood and tracheid properties of Norway spruce were integrated into a distance-independent process-based growth and yield model. Increasing the thinning intensity resulted in a lower mean wood density, tracheid length, and latewood proportion in harvested wood. Wood density and tracheid length of harvested pulpwood slightly decreased in later thinnings and final cuts. Thinning regimes with high early growing stock and decreasing later growing stock were most profitable. Nutrient addition accelerated volume growth and increased the value growth. The increase in volume growth due to nutrient addition more than offset the economic influence of the loss in wood density and tracheid length.     

Measurement of Green Plank Shape for Prediction and Elimination of Compression Wood

The objective of this study was to predict the amount and the distribution of compression wood (CW) within a Norway spruce [ Picea abies (L.) Karst.] plank based on green plank curvature. The findings indicated a possibility of predicting the longitudinal distribution of CW from the green plank curvature. Areas free from CW showed a typical concave shape in relation to the centre of the log, while CW was present when a convex shape was shown. The larger the magnitude of convex curvature, the higher the concentrations of CW that could be found, and a larger fraction of dried planks was rejected due to excessive warp. This study also determined what information can be used to eliminate areas of high concentrations of CW by cutting and how cutting affects the grading results with respect to warp. Over 50% of the plank length showing a high concentration of CW (>30% of the cross-cut volume) was successfully cut off. Cutting strategies based on predicted CW concentrations resulted in a 10-40% increase in accepted plank length.     

Genetic variation and relationships to growth traits for microfibril angle,wood density and modulus of elasticity in a Picea abies clonal trial in southern Sweden

Abstract

Genetic variation in wood density, microfibril angle (MFA), wood stiffness (MOE), height, diameter and volume was investigated in a 26-year-old Norway spruce [(Picea abies (L.) Karst.] clonal trial in southern Sweden. Wood quality measurements were performed on 10 mm increment cores using SilviScan. For MFA, mean values of annual rings showed the highest value (30°) at ring 2 counting from the pith, followed by a steep decrease and a gradual stabilization around ring 12 at approximately 14°. MOE showed a monotonic increase from 5 GPa to 14 GPa when moving from pith to bark. High broad-sense heritability values were found for wood density (0.48), MFA (0.41) and MOE (0.50). All growth traits displayed heritability values of similar magnitudes as reported in earlier studies. The generally high age–age correlations between different sections of the wood cores suggested that early selection for wood quality traits would be successful. Owing to unfavorable genetic correlations between volume and MOE, the correlated response indicated that selection for volume only at age 10 would result in a 0.27% decrease in weighted MOE at age 26 for every 1% increase in volume.     

Incidence of Root and Butt Rot in Consecutive Rotations of Picea abies

The incidence of butt rot in two consecutive rotations of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] in 28 permanent sample plots at four different sites in Denmark was evaluated. Incidence of butt rot was estimated by visual examination of stumps at final felling of the previous rotation and by examination of bore cores taken at the butt from a random sample of trees before first thinning of the subsequent rotation. There was no correlation between the incidence of butt rot at final felling of the previous rotation of Norway spruce and the incidence of butt rot at first thinning of the subsequent rotation of Norway spruce. The incidence of butt rot at final felling was between 19 and 100%, and at first thinning between 0 and 20%. The S-form of Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref. was the most commonly found decay-causing organism at all sites. Root systems of 28 trees without decay at stump height in the present rotation were excavated to estimate the incidence of root rot. Heterobasidion annosum was found in only one root. Resinicium bicolor (Alb. & Schw. ex Fr.) Parm. was found in 25% of the excavated root systems. The result of the study shows that the incidence of butt rot at first thinning of Norway spruce is not necessarily higher on sites where the previous rotation was heavily infected than on sites where infection in the previous rotation was low.     

Forest Fertilization Research in Finland: A Literature Review

This paper summarizes results from fertilization research carried out in Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce [ Picea abies (L.) Karst.] stands growing on mineral soil in Finland. The use of needle and soil analyses to indicate nutrient status and the need for fertilization are discussed along with the possibilities of increasing tree growth in various site types and stages of stand development. Doses, types of fertilizer, application time, growth increase, wood quality and the profitability of fertilization are also discussed. The stand response in terms of soil acidity, biological activity, soil fauna and resistance of trees to nutrient addition are all reviewed. The effects of fertilization on understorey vegetation, mushrooms and berries, and leaching loss of nutrients are also included.     

Potential Effects of Temperature on Early Reproductive Development and Progeny Performance in Picea abies (L.) Karst

In order to enhance cone production in Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst] seed orchards have been established in more southerly, warmer sites in Norway. This has led to concern and some evidence that seedlings obtained from parent trees grown at warmer sites may not be well adapted if planted in northern regions. Selective events during sexual reproduction in the warmer climate may select for traits not well adapted for cold climates. This study describes ovule and male gametophyte development, fertilization and proembryo and early embryo development under six different temperature regimens of warm or cold, warm-cold or cold-warm, and compares development in relation to temperature sums in degree days (dd) and calendar date. The outside treatment in a cold climate in Norway served as the control, and normal development and few ovule abortions and abnormalities were observed. In no treatments were abnormalities in male gametophyte development observed. In treatments in which trees were kept in the greenhouse throughout the study or moved during the study from the outside to inside the greenhouse, a higher incidence of megagametophyte, egg or embryo abortion was generally observed.     

Colour responses from wood,thermally modified in superheated steam and pressurized steam atmospheres

Abstract

In this study, two different methods were used to produce thermally modified wood. One was carried out in a typical kiln drying chamber using superheated steam (SS) and the other used pressurized steam in an autoclave cylinder (PS). Overall, both processes followed the same principles and the wood was not treated with any chemicals. Two wood species were studied, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Norway spruce (Picea abies). Treatments in the autoclave were carried out under pressure using temperatures of 160°C, 170°C and 180°C. Temperatures of 190°C and 212°C were used in treatments in the chamber at normal air pressure. The colour was measured using L*C*H colour space. Results for both species showed that similar L* (lightness) can be reached at lower (20–30°C) temperatures using PS compared with SS treatment. The hue angle of PS-treated wood was smaller than that of SS-treated wood. No significant difference in C* (chroma) was detected. The difference in E value between PS- and SS-treated wood was smaller for Norway spruce than for Scots pine. The residual moisture content was about 10% higher in wood treated by the PS process compared with the SS process.     

Models for Assessing Timber Grade Distribution and Economic Value of Standing Birch Trees

In order to obtain a more precise prediction of the distribution of each timber grade or log grade with regard to the volume of birch (Betula pendula Roth., B. pubescens Ehrh.) in models for long-term planning, ordered probit models were developed. These models were developed by using data from three mixed birch and Norway spruce stands in Norway. The data consisted of 168 stems. In Norway, three ordinary birch saw log grades are commonly used, with pulpwood as a fourth grade. In this study, these four grades were applied in addition to waste timber, which was treated as a fifth grade. The developed models showed that the grade distribution of birch trees of mixed birch and spruce stands was highly correlated with tree height (p<0.01) and height to first visible dry branch (p=0.081). The statistical significance of both models was good (p<0.0001), as measured by log likelihood test statistics. Classifying the 168 stems by saw timber or pulpwood in butt log led to greatly improved estimates (p<0.01). The developed models would allow the incorporation of timber grade in stand simulators, enabling more precise predictions regarding the economic implications of alternative management strategies for birch trees.     

Wood Production Potentials of Fenno-Scandinavian Forests Under Nature-Orientated Management

In Finland, Norway and Sweden forest management is presently changing towards a more nature-orientated management. In this study the European Forest Information SCENario (EFISCEN) model was applied to determine how this change might affect the potential for wood production in the three countries. Three different management regimes, traditional, traditional with nature conservation (''conservation''), and longer rotations with nature conservation (''conservation +''), were combined with two alternative felling levels. The results show that conserving 6.1-8.8% of the older forests in the southern regions had no limiting effects on production levels, as foreseen by the European Timber Trend Studies V by the UN-ECE for Finland and Sweden. Under the conservation + scenario, maximum sustainable felling levels decreased to 84, 79 and 72% of the present levels in Finland, Norway and Sweden, respectively. Increasing the rotation length put more pressure on the older age classes and thus did not increase the average age of the forest. If the consumption of wood increases as quickly as indicated by other studies, it will be hard to fulfil that demand and at the same time conserve considerable areas of forest in the southern regions of the countries.     

Fuel quality of Norway spruce stumps – influence of harvesting technique and storage method

Abstract

The interest in using stump biomass as a biofuel has recently increased in Sweden. The uneven consumption of wood fuel during the year creates a need for storage. This study examined the properties of stump biomass and how they vary at two sites in Sweden depending on harvesting technique, storage method and storage period. Norway spruce stumps, extracted using three different stump harvesting heads (Pallari, Rotary Cutter and Aalto), were stored in windrows or heaps. After 3 months, stumps stored in heaps were gathered into windrows. The fuel quality parameters moisture content (MC), ash content (AC) and calorific value (CV) were evaluated on five occasions in the period May 2008–September 2009. After 16 months of storage, the MC in all treatments had decreased to <25% (wet basis). Average AC decreased from 3.8% to around 1% (dry basis), whereas CV marginally increased. Stumps split during harvesting dried better than those harvested in one piece. The influence of storage method was minimal, although initial storage in heaps allowed better drying in the stumps harvested in one piece. In general, fuel quality improved in all treatments after storage.     

Is tree growth in boreal coniferous stands on mineral soils affected by the addition of wood ash?

Increasing use of forest fuels for energy production is generating greater quantities of wood ash. In Sweden, it is recommended that this ash should be returned to the forest to counter soil acidification and avoid potential future nutrient deficiencies, but the effects on tree growth require clarification. Thus, 10 field experiments were established in Sweden in 1990–2006 to study the effects of adding wood ash of various origins, doses and combinations of both ash and nitrogen on stem growth in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) stands on mineral soil. Observations after 5–15 years show that growth responses were strongest when N was added, either alone or with wood ash. Growth responses to additions of wood ash without N were small and variable and statistically insignificant at all study sites. However, there were indications that adding wood ash may increase stem-wood growth at fertile sites and decrease it at less fertile sites. Hence, at fertile sites, it may compensate for the growth reductions that normally follow whole-tree harvests, at least temporarily, presumably due to its effects on soil N turnover. At less fertile sites, adding N is probably essential to counteract these growth reductions.     

Threshold price as an economic indicator for sustainable forest management under stochastic log price

We seek the minimum harvest age and threshold price for sustaining forest management by constructing a stochastic dynamic programming model using a geometric mean-reverting process for log price dynamics. Three decisions—“Wait for harvest”, “Harvest & Plant”, and “Harvest & Abandon”—are assumed. The applied growth simulator is deterministic. Using the monthly time series data of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) log price from 1975 to 2006, our analyses show that when the reverted mean is lower than the cost, the minimum harvest age increases as the current price approaches the threshold price, then declines. In other cases with a higher reverted mean, the minimum harvest age increases as the current or initial log price decreases. When the initial log price approaches the threshold price, the minimum harvest age tends to increase. These phenomena can be used to evaluate the possibility of management abandonment under a stochastic situation of log price dynamics.     

Incidence of Cronartium ribicola in Finnish botanical gardens and five-needle pine plantations in northern Finland

Abstract

Stump removal procedure increases the extent of exposed mineral soil in the clear felled areas. In this study, our aim was to find out whether the early growth and mycorrhization of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings differ between stump removal and mounding sites. Stumps were harvested from five one-hectare study sites and other five sites were mounded after clear felling. Twenty seedlings were planted on mounds at each study site. Although the height of spruce seedlings did not differ between the treatments after three growing periods, their mean growth was ca. 10% higher at the stump removal sites. The community of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) in the seedling roots did not differ between the treatments. The high mycorrhization rate in the nursery still remained after two and three growing seasons in the field and diversity of ECM community slightly increased during the first years. Our results indicate some positive although rather small and transient effects of stump removal on the performance of planted spruce seedlings. Longer-term studies are needed to fully understand the effects of stump removal on the later seedling development and their symbiotic interactions with mycorrhizal fungi.     

Batch measurements of wood density on intact or prepared drill cores using x-ray microdensitometry

The performance of a batch scanning x-ray densitometer for measuring wood density without sample preparation, i.e., on intact drill cores, or on rectangular samples prepared from drill cores, was analysed. Effects of x-ray intensity, sample thickness and fiber direction, as well as extractives content, were evaluated for young (mainly sapwood) and old (mainly heartwood) wood from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). The x-ray power level used as standard (1.4 kW; 40 kV and 35 mA) seemed appropriate for the tested species and specimen thickness. The density of intact drill cores could be determined with a mean standard deviation of 1.6% for each sample, with a single machine run, if the cores were mounted with a fixed fiber direction and calibrations were made for each wood type. The corresponding precision for rectangular samples was 1.0%. Further improvements are attainable by using standard reference samples in each machine run and batch-wise analysis. For the chosen wood types and measurement technique, a sample thickness of 5 mm should give the best precision. However, for species with very narrow rings, thinner samples would improve the spatial resolution when ring boundaries are angled or curved. Extractives should be removed, especially for pine, but possibly also for spruce, if high precision in density determination is required. Received 19 January 2000     

Control of tracheid cross-sectional dimensions in Norway spruce and Scots pine wood raw material

Abstract

Wood properties, including tracheid cross-sectional dimensions, show a large degree of variation. To improve the properties of products made from wood, different methods to control variation have been developed. This study aims to determine the theoretical efficiency of three control strategies: the fractionation of pulped tracheids into earlywood and latewood, the separation of juvenile and mature wood, and sorting of logs according to tree size. The efficiency of each method was studied by first constructing virtual trees from measured tracheid cross-sectional dimensions, then simulating the efficiency of above-mentioned methods. The tracheid dimension data include Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). The simulations show that separation into earlywood and latewood classes has the highest theoretical efficiency and yields the lowest variances in raw material. Classification into juvenile and mature wood groups is the second most efficient method, and the sorting of logs according to the size class of the tree is the least efficient method. It was also concluded that the variation in cell-wall thickness and radial diameter mainly originates from differences between earlywood and latewood, whereas the variation in tangential diameter mainly originates from differences between mature and juvenile wood.     

Impacts of bucking and delimbing alternatives on pulpwood and energy wood yields in young thinning stands in Finland

The supply of energy wood from young forests could be enhanced by altering the harvesting methods in integrated pulpwood and energy wood thinnings. In this study, effects of different bucking and delimbing options on the biomass division into energy wood, pulpwood and logging residue were estimated in integrated thinnings of young stands dominated by Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Norway spruce (Picea abies) or birches (Betula spp.) in Finland. Thinning options were simulated in the harvestings of model stands created on the basis of forest inventory data. Increasing the minimum top diameter of pulpwood (MTDP) expectedly increased energy wood and decreased pulpwood yields. Depending on tree species, energy wood yield increased by 36–65% when the top diameter was increased from the regular level (6 or 7 cm) to 8 cm in whole-tree harvesting, and was more than doubled when the top diameter was increased to 10 cm. Delimbed energy wood yield was increased by 240–280% when the top diameter was increased to 10 cm. Total harvesting yield in whole-tree thinnings was slightly increased by increasing top diameter. These increments in harvesting yields and reallocations of tree biomass could have an impact on large-scale forest energy potentials.