The economic evaluation of timber obtained from Norway spruce and scots pine grown under different thinning regimes in Lithuania

Abstract

ABSTRACT In Lithuania, no studies have determined the relationship between the quality and economic benefits of Norway spruce and Scots pine wood based on age, stand density, and various forest management technologies. This study aims to assess and compare the economic benefits of Norway spruce and Scots pine in stands of different initial densities, depending on different forest management measures. This study calculated different pre-commercial thinning intensities 4 times, 3 times, and 2 times and final thinning profitability by stand volume and wood quality parameters modulus of elasticity and bending strength. Moreover, thinning intensities included three initial stand densities of 3000–3100, 2000–2100, and 1000–1100 trees per hectare, and different thinning regimes when the stand was thinned from below at the age of 8–9, 15, 21, and 35 years. The results showed higher profitability in the pre-commercial thinning of low-intensity with higher frequency − 4 thinning operations over the 40 years. However, the high-thinning intensity − 2 thinning operations over 40 years – applied in young Norway spruce and Scots pine stands will reduce wood quality and profitability in the future. The study found that stand thinning of low intensity tends to improve wood quality and the profitability that depends on it. After assessing the wood quality, it turned out that the 40-year-old Scots pine trees were too young to harvest because of low wood quality. However, the timber from Norway spruce trees could be used profitably if there is a market demand.