Influence of different growing sites on quality of Pinus taeda wood.

Abstract

The present paper analyzes the effects of different growing sites and spacings on the quality of the Pinus taeda wood, as well as testing the non-destructive technique of stress wave application for estimating wood properties. Three sites containing 14, 16 and 18-year-old trees were analyzed. For site characterization undisturbed and compound soil samples were collected. In each site, five trees were selected. On these standing trees measurements of propagation time of stress waves, total and commercial height as well as the breast height diameter were measured and discs were taken from five different positions along the trunk. Afterwards, measurements of propagation time of stress waves were done on these newly cut logs. Needles were also collected from the middle third of each tree. In relation to the growing sites in general, the wood that comes from fast growing rate sites showed higher value for specific mass, shorter and broader fibers with a larger diameter and thicker walls and, consequently, higher values for Runkel index and fraction wall and lower values for coefficient of flexibility and felting index. Significant correlations were detected, thus showing that the technique can be applied for indirect estimate (non-destructive) of these properties.