High Quality Wood Products Research Articles

Pectin Methylesterase Genes Influence Solid Wood Properties of Eucalyptus pilularis

This association study of Eucalyptus pilularis populations provides empirical evidence for the role of Pectin Methylesterase (PME) in influencing solid wood characteristics of Eucalyptus. PME6 was primarily associated with the shrinkage and collapse of drying timber, which are phenotypic traits consistent with the role of pectin as a hydrophilic polysaccharide. PME7 was primarily associated with cellulose and pulp yield traits and had an inverse correlation with lignin content. Selection of specific alleles in these genes may be important for improving trees as sources of high-quality wood products. A heterozygote advantage was postulated for the PME7 loci and, in combination with haplotype blocks, may explain the absence of a homozygous class at all single-nucleotide polymorphisms investigated in this gene.

Application of a life cycle assessment to walnut tree ( Juglans regia L.) high quality wood production: a case study in southern Italy

Although Italy is one of the most important exporters of furniture in Europe, it is also a great importer of foreign timber. We decided to focus our study on Walnut tree ( Juglans regia L.) as it can be considered one of the most important species for high quality timber production in Italy. Our goal is to examine the production of high quality timber deriving from a dedicated walnut tree plantation with the intent of evaluating the environmental impact from the LCA prospective (ISO 14040). The functional unit adopted here was 1 m 3 of dry solid under bark wood ( u = 12%). Tillage and N-based fertilisers had the heaviest environmental impact, respectively through diesel consumption and a high NH 3 volatilization rate. The emissions produced by urea may be reduced by switching to other N-fertilisers with a lower NH 3 volatilization rate, or by choosing biofuels that can also represent an alternative to traditional diesel. Plant protection systems against animals such as metallic fences represent an unexpected hot spot because of the steel production and galvanizing processes related to them. Biodegradable protection systems might be adopted instead of metallic fences, even though this choice depends on the size of the animals. When considering the lack of data in industrial tree plantations literature with regard to the production of high quality wood, the present LCA study can be considered a useful tool in providing a deeper understanding of the key environmental impact issues related to high quality timber production.

A life cycle assessment case study for walnut tree (Juglans regia L.) seedlings production

High-quality wood production is based on both natural forestry populations and dedicated tree plantations, also mentioned as industrial plantations. The establishment of dedicated plantations needs high-quality seedlings, often grown in a nursery, having specific genetic and morphological features. From seed gathering to final selling, the growth of the seedlings needs human interventions and specific inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, substrates, and capital goods (e.g., pots and greenhouses). All these inputs of course can cause not negligible environmental impacts, due to their production, maintenance, and final disposal. For these reasons, the environmental impact due to seedlings production in a nursery deserves deep analysis to assess the overall impact linked to wood supply chain: it is important that wood products are able to meet high environmental standards. This study is focused on 1- and 2-year-old walnut tree (Juglans regia L.) seedlings, aimed to high-quality timber production. Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was adopted according to ISO 14040 standards. As case study, a nursery located in the South of Italy was studied. Both 1- and 2-year-old seedlings were analyzed from the LCA point of view and then compared, adopting 100 seedlings as functional unit. Three inputs, plastic production, forming, and disposal to landfill, can be identified as the greatest polluters for both 1- and 2-year-old seedlings; for all the impact categories taken into account, their emissions joined always exceeded the 50% of the total amount, reaching values up to 90% (e.g., abiotic depletion, fresh water aquatic ecotoxicity, and photochemical oxidation). Two-year-old production system needs more inputs than 1-year-old; therefore, its greatest environmental impact was expected, but it is interesting to stress the increasing registered over the second year of growing, which reaches values up to 747% (fresh water aquatic ecotoxicity), most of which is due to polypropylene (mulching cloth, trays, and first of all, the pots). For four out of ten impact categories, polypropylene caused the greatest impact; therefore, interventions in this phase of the production system could be useful to reduce the overall environmental impact. Further investigations regarding the mortality rate for 1- and 2-year-old seedlings (after the plantation) are needed to better compare practical, economic, and environmental aspects.

Relation of Fraxinus excelsior seedling morphology to growth and root proliferation during field establishment

The demand for hardwood seedlings has increased in recent years in Italy, particularly for tree farming programmes oriented towards quality wood production; the availability of high-quality seedlings is a crucial step towards being successful in establishing such productive plantations. The aim of this work was to identify the most important morphological seedling quality attributes. Nursery stock consisting of 1-year-old bareroot Fraxinus excelsior seedlings was evaluated for field performance at the end of the first growing season on a plantation site in the Po Valley, northern Italy, in relation to the objective of producing high-quality timber plantations. The approach consisted of (1) morphological characterization (i.e. stem height, root collar diameter, shoot and root architecture) of the seedlings before outplanting; (2) morphological assessment (including root excavations) of the plants after the first year of field growth; (3) relating attributes observed during phases (1) and (2); and (4) identifying those morphological characteristics that effectively predict outplanting success. The results indicate that the highest quality seedlings are best selected on the basis of initial shoot height and root system morphological type (i.e. stem heights 40–50 cm with a fasciculate root system of at least 40 cm length and rich in fine roots). Planting these seedling morphological types may dramatically improve field performance (i.e. more than 100% increase of height increment in this case), which will help to promote the development of afforestation plantations oriented towards high-quality wood production.

Crediting of carbon storage in reforestation projects under timber management

Summary The permanence and crediting of carbon storage in reforestation projects that are subject to timber harvesting is a key issue for project-level accounting of carbon sequestration in forests. With increasing momentum in the development of carbon markets, it is essential to establish a consistent and appropriate method for crediting that can be attributed to reforestation projects. Worldwide, the NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme (NSW Scheme) is the first fully operational scheme that allows for the generation of carbon credits from sequestration in forests. The method used by the NSW Scheme to address the issue of permanence, known as the 100-Year Rule, limits the generation of credits from a given pool to the minimum carbon stocks that are maintained over a 100-y period. This is an inequitable approach that does not adequately recognize the contribution that individual forest stands make in reducing levels of C02 in the atmosphere. It results in greater benefits to larger owners, and provides a disincentive for participation by smaller owners. This paper illustrates an alternative approach, based on the actual contribution by individual stands. The non-declining yield of a stand, when considered as part of a normal forest, provides a more equitable basis for crediting, especially for small-scale forest growers. This method is numerically equivalent to the ‘average stocks’ approach suggested by other authors, once pools of debris and soil carbon stocks are accounted for. This method of crediting is not only fairer in that it recognises more appropriately the contribution of projects, regardless of ownership boundary, but is far simpler to administer for managers of carbon pools aggregated over a number of forest owners. Greater benefits from carbon accrue to projects using longer rotations, providing incentive for the establishment of permanent forests that produce high-quality wood products.

Umwandlungs- und Aufforstungsmassnahmen in vernachlässigten Kastanien-Stockausschlagwäldern im Tessin – Aufwendungen und Kosten | Transformation and afforestation measures in neglected chestnut coppice stands in the canton of Tessin – expenditures and costs

The attack of the chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) on chestnut coppice stands on the southern side of the Swiss Alps started to take on epidemic proportions in 1948. At the time,catastrophic experiences in America raised fears that it would lead to the total destruction of the chestnut. In consequence a wide-ranging transformation programme was initiated in the canton of Tessin. For want of relevant practical experience all promising species were planted using the then existing planting and silvicultural techniques for systematic, high-quality wood production. However, the existing infrastructure did not allow for a detailed control of expenditure for the measures taken. Starting in 1973, within a teaching-forest project, the Institute of silviculture of the ETH Zurich made control possible. In this report we present and analyse the measures applied to 17 parcels of land, nine of which were transformed and eight afforested. From today’s point of view the total cost was disproportionately high, sometimes more than 1500 hours per hectare in the first 15 to 20 years. Taking developments in wood prices and forest management costs since then into consideration we conclude that indiscriminate planting is not to be recommended, especially in view of the fact that the chestnut blight turned out to be relatively harmless thanks to the phenomenon of «hypo-virulence». Finally, we discuss alternative silvicultural measures for chestnut coppice stands.

NEW TREE SPECIES IN A CHANGING WORLD

Summary The pace of physical change to the biosphere brought about directly or indirectly by human activity is accelerating; for many trees this may not necessarily be destructive. Individual species, however, and some types of forest face serious risk of devastation. Social awareness about the place of trees in the environment is also increasing. This too can be beneficial for some species but pressure for immediate planting might cause problems such as genetic pollution for others. An opportunity exists now to harness public enthusiasm for tree planting and conservation, and also take advantage of some of the current physical global changes which are occurring. At the same time Society's insatiable demand for wood and wood products (eg. wood pulp) might eventually be diverted away from sensitive natural forests and towards sustainable home grown alternatives, many of which will grow on land no longer required for agriculture. There are many different potential plantation species available for bulk or high quality wood production which could be cultivated in Britain.

Potential of Western Australian Eastern Goldfields timbers for high quality wood products

Summary The utilisation potential of six species growing in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia (Dundas blackbutt (Eucalyptus dundasii Maiden), York gum (E. loxophleba Benth.), gimlet (E. salubris F. Muell.), redwood (E. transcontinental Maiden), mulga (Acacia aneura F. Muell. ex Benth.) and northern cypress pine (Callitris columellaris F. Muell. sens, lat.)) were assessed. The results of sawing, drying and processing indicated that high dried dressed recoveries are achieveable from logs of small end diameter underbark (s.e.d.u.b.) between 140 mm and 300 mm. Mean basic densities ranged from 654 kg/m3 to 956 kg/m3 and air-dried densities from 773 kg/m3 to 1 185 kg/m3. The sawing, drying and processing features of each species are discussed. The boards produced were made into edge-and-face-glued panels, indicating that high density species such as Dundas blackbutt, gimlet, redwood and mulga must be cold pressed to allow adhesive penetration before setting. Hot pressing gave good results with northern cypress pine, but less satisfactory results with York gum. The potential for establishing an industry based on the Goldfields timber resource is discussed.

Growth table for Corsican pine in Flanders (Belgium)

After its introduction at the start of this century, the Corsican pine has become an important forest tree in Flanders (Belgium). The total area covered by Corsican pine is about 11.000 ha. Due to climatological factors it is virtually absent from the Walloon part of Belgium. Despite the crisis in 1984 - 1986, practical experiences with its vitality and disease resistance are generally positive. Compared to Scots pine which is native to Belgium, its productivity and insensitivity for insect pests is large. To quantify the productivity of Corsican pine, a growth table was constructed using a method developed by PALM and DAGNELIE. It was based on data from 321 temporarily and 80 permanent plots distributed over Flanders. Five yield classes were distinguished according to dominant height at 50 years. For each yield class, a series of tables as a function of treatment was constructed. Treatments were characterized by the mean annual circumference increment. These tables allow to predict the growth of Corsican pines. Such predictions for the whole range of species are necessary for the development of a good forestry policy and for timber industries. The tables also provide information for any given Corsican pine stand that is helpful in practice: expected productivity, stand density, determination of the felling quantum. The data show that the productivity of Corsican pine is very high. The very early culmination of the current annual volume increment and the rather constant level of the mean annual volume increment after culmination are interesting new findings. It is also shown that it is possible to work with long rotation periods. This offers good opportunities for the production of high quality wood and is also important for the social and ecological role of the forest. Productivity is lowest on very dry and sandy soils. A high productivity on moderately dry sand and loamy sand soils and loamy soils make the Corsican pine one of the most valuable tree species for the Kempen in Flanders. Although productivity is very high on well drained sandy loam and loam soils, plantation of Corsican pine on these locations is not advised.

Effect of Thinning on the Production of High-quality Wood in a Quebec Northern Hardwood Stand

In 1963, two intensities of thinning were carried out in a 60-year-old northern hardwood stand of fire origin. Yellow birch (Betulaalleghaniensis Britt.) made up as much as 40% of the total number of trees 9 cm d.b.h. and up. By 1973, both sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.) and yellow birch had responded to thinning, the former more than the latter. The percentages of yellow birch trees had not changed regardless of treatment. There were between 120 and 129 trees/ha of the 25–39 cm diameter class in the unthinned as well as in the thinned areas. Basal area of the trees 9 cm d.b.h. and up had increased by 5.4, 7.6, and 8.1 m2/ha in the unthinned, 20% thinned, and 40% thinned area, respectively. A decrease in stem quality was not observed, even at the 40% thinning intensity. Both thinning intensities were thus successful except that they somewhat favored sugar maple at the expense of yellow birch.