The distribution and interrelationship of collapse,volumetric shrinkage,moisture content and density in trees of Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell.

Summary The relationships among collapse, volumetric shrinkage, moisture content and basic density and their distribution within the stem were examined for trees of E. regnans. It was found that collapse and volumetric shrinkage each were significantly related to moisture content (positively), basic density (negatively), and (positively) to the derived values P (per cent of theoretical saturation) and Q (per cent of cell cavity volume containing water). Notwithstanding the inverse association evident between moisture content and density in the living tree, moisture content was shown to be independently related to each of collapse and volumetric shrinkage.Within the stem, collapse and volumetric shrinkage were negatively correlated with height in the tree although the significance of this relationship was qualified by the adjustment for other variables. Samples containing sapwood displayed collapse values significantly lower than heartwood samples. This was reflected in the presence of a positive relationship between collapse and distance from the periphery when all material was considered, but a negative relationship when sapwood-containing samples were omitted. Basic density was positively correlated with height in the tree and negatively correlated with distance from the periphery. Moisture content, P and Q were negatively correlated with both height in the tree and distance from the periphery although the latter relationship for moisture content was dependent on adjustment for density.The highly significant relationship between volumetric shrinkage and collapse suggested that the former could confidently be used in assessing collapse severity. Moisture content was determined to be an independent indirect indicator of collapse whereas basic density, P, Q and green density could all be of indicatory value, especially the last in view of its ease of measurement.