Abstract
We report on the most extensive study to date in Poland concerning the variability in the chemical composition of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) wood depending on the forest habitat type and the location of the forest stand. The research was carried out in 12 forest districts, on two habitat types where silver birch forest stands predominate in respect of coverage area and merchantable volume. Chemical composition analysis was performed on 51 samples from 306 test trees aged approximately 30, 50 and 70 years. In the examined sample material, the sum of the main chemical components for individual locations varied from 89.26 to 91.57%. The content of substances soluble in water and ethanol ranged from 2.30 to 4.03%, and the ash content was measured at between 0.09 and 0.25%. The results showed that the location had a significant influence on the contents of substances soluble in cold water (p = 0.0015), hot water (p = 0.0005), ethanol (p < 0.0001) and 1% NaOH (p = 0.0014), as well as on the contents of cellulose (p = 0.04), lignin (p = 0.002), pentosans (p = 0.04) and ash (p < 0.0001) and on the pH value (p < 0.0001). Notable influence of location on the contents of secondary constituents of birch wood, especially those extractable with water and ethanol, was recorded for the test plots in north-eastern Poland. The obtained results may form a basis for assessment of the industrial utility of birch wood, as well as the optimisation of traditional methods of utilisation and the development of new such methods that are ecological and sustainable.
Highlights
In Poland, silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) is one of the most important forest-forming and timber production deciduous species
The results showed that the location had a significant influence on the contents of substances soluble in cold water (p = 0.0015), hot water (p = 0.0005), ethanol (p \ 0.0001) and 1% NaOH (p = 0.0014), as well as on the contents of cellulose (p = 0.04), lignin (p = 0.002), pentosans (p = 0.04) and ash (p \ 0.0001) and on the pH value (p \ 0.0001)
In order to show correlations between the location and forest habitat type and the chemical composition of silver birch wood, the results obtained from each test plot were averaged
Summary
In Poland, silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) is one of the most important forest-forming and timber production deciduous species. It accounts for 7.3% of Polish forest coverage (GUS 2016). The constantly increasing share of deciduous species, including silver birch, in the stand composition of Polish and European forests is leading to a greater supply of timber from those species (GUS 2016; Ozolincius et al 2016). The pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries use birch leaves, bark and sap for the production of herbal medicines, antioxidants, cosmetics, dietary supplements and drinks (Karnaouri et al 2016; KociołekBalawejder and Z_ ebrowska 2009; Ozolincius et al 2016). The above-mentioned uses of birch wood do not fully exploit its potential as a renewable material
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