Estimating the frequency of stem rot in Picea abies using an increment borer

Abstract

The likelihood of detecting decay present in Norway spruce trees when taking bore core samples at breast height or at stump height was analyzed in two stands. The actual numbers of decayed trees were obtained after the trees were felled. More than 80% of the decay extending to breast height level was detected by taking core samples at that level. However, these core samples revealed only 40–70% of the actual amount of decay present at stump height. At stump height a higher portion of the total amount of decay present was revealed. Heterobasidion annosum was detected in 69 and 77% of the decayed trees in the two stands. Misjudgements occurred mainly where either (i) decay was present at stump height but not at breast height or (ii) when the decay column had a lateral position. At breast height the probability of finding lateral rot columns was higher than at stump height.