Abstract
A significant volume of wood was lost due to wood defects; however, few studies were done to quantify wood loss by wood defects. This study was focused on quantifying wood loss by heart rot, especially hollowness in Shorea robusta. The study was conducted in Tileswornath community forest of Rautahat district. The data were collected from the felling site of the regeneration felling block of Tileswornath community forest. 44 trees were selected randomly, and tree diameter, total height, and volume were measured. The destructive method was followed as heart rot cannot be visible from the surface. Felled trees were sanctioned into 285 logs and separated based on the hollowness. Hollow diameters at both thin end and mid and thick end, as well as length, were measured on the hollow log, and Smalian’s formula was used to calculate the volume of hollowed portion, and volume calculation formula for the cylinder was used to calculate total volume. For the solid logs, mid diameter and length of the log were measured and volume calculation formula for the cylinder was used to calculate total volume. Logistic regression was performed to identify the relation of total height and diameter with the probability of hollowness presence. The study showed that 59% of sampled trees and 34.39% of logs were found to be hollowed due to heart rot. 41.79% volume was occupied by hollow on the hollowed log. Logistic regression discards the relation of height to the hollowness but signified the relation of diameter to the probability of hollowness presence. Before implementation of scientific forest management modality, the timber retained in stump per tree was found as 0.18 cubic feet.
Highlights
Wood decay is the biological process that converts lignin and cellulose to carbon dioxide and water [1]
In Nepal, very few studies were conducted on the loss assessment of timber due to different agents; and this study is one of the pioneer researches on these tree defects found in Shorea robusta and the amount of loss due to this defect. is study assesses the amount of volume loss due to defect in the ScFM which emphasized the importance of ScFM as it is able to timely remove the defected trees from the forest
About 59% of the sample trees and 34.39% of the total number of the logs were found to be affected by the hollowness. 41.79% volume was lost due to the hollow in the hollowed tree. e average height of the sample tree was found to be 17.5 m and the average hollow length was found to be 7.5 m
Summary
Wood decay is the biological process that converts lignin and cellulose to carbon dioxide and water [1]. ScFM is basically silvicultural based forest management system and irregular shelterwood system was preferred and used to manage the forest in Nepal. It was implemented with two principles, that is, to remove the overmature tree from the forest and to enhance the regeneration. Among the important timber species, Shorea robusta dominates more than half of the lowland forests of Nepal [5]. In Nepal, very few studies were conducted on the loss assessment of timber due to different agents; and this study is one of the pioneer researches on these tree defects found in Shorea robusta and the amount of loss due to this defect. In Nepal, very few studies were conducted on the loss assessment of timber due to different agents; and this study is one of the pioneer researches on these tree defects found in Shorea robusta and the amount of loss due to this defect. is study assesses the amount of volume loss due to defect in the ScFM which emphasized the importance of ScFM as it is able to timely remove the defected trees from the forest
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