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Effect of stand and tree attributes on growth and wood quality characteristics from a spacing trial with Populus xiaohei

Effets de la densité de plantation sur la croissance et la qualité des bois dans un dispositif d’espacement de Populus xiaohei

Annals of Forest Science volume 64, pages 807–814 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The effect of stand density (1000 stems/ha, 500 stems/ha and 250 stems/ha) on tree growth and wood quality characteristics was studied in a 27-year-old plantation species of Populus xiaohei in China. Results indicated that stand density had significant effects on tree radial growth and crown size, and the lowest stand density produced trees with the largest stem taper. In terms of wood quality characteristics, there was no significant effect of stand density on either wood basic density or fiber length. However, significant differences were found between different stand densities for wood mechanical properties. A positive relationship between modulus of elasticity, compression strength and stand density was observed, while the highest modulus of rupture was recorded at a moderate density of 500 stems/ha. Stand density was responsible for highly significant effects on both juvenile wood and wet heartwood basal areas in individual trees, and there was an obvious tendency towards increasing juvenile wood and wet heartwood basal areas with decreasing stand density. In addition, the relationships between wood quality characteristics and tree and stand characteristics were also examined. Some wood quality characteristics, namely mechanical properties and juvenile wood and wet heartwood basal areas, were quantified successfully in relation to selected tree characteristics using a regression approach with various degrees of goodness of fit. Based on comprehensive consideration of various factors, such as wood quality, tree growth, and establishment cost, results from this study suggest that a density of 500 stems/ha is optimum for wood production.

Résumé

Ce travail analyse les effets de la densité de plantation (1000 tiges/ha, 500 tiges/ha and 250 tiges/ha) sur la croissance et la qualité du bois dans une plantation chinoise de Populus xiaohei âgée de 27 ans. Les résultats montrent (i) que la densité de plantation affecte significativement la croissance radiale et la dimension des houppiers et (ii) que la densité la plus faible conduit à des arbres ayant le défilement le plus important. Par contre, il n’y a aucun effet de la densité de plantation sur la densité du bois ou sur la longueur des fibres. Cependant, il existe des différences significatives entre traitements pour les propriétés mécaniques. Nous avons observé une corrélation positive entre le module d’élasticité, la résistance en compression et la densité de plantation tandis que le module de rupture le plus élevé a été obtenu pour la densité de plantation intermédiaire de 500 tiges/ha. La densité de plantation est responsable des effets les plus significatifs sur les surfaces terrières de bois juvénile et de cœur humide qui augmentent lorsque la densité de plantation diminue. Nous avons également analysé les relations entre la qualité des bois et les caractéristiques des arbres et des peuplements. Certaines propriétés du bois comme les propriétés mécaniques et les surfaces terrières de bois juvénile et de cœur humide ont été quantifiées avec succès par l’utilisation de régressions multiples. À partir de ces résultats il a été possible de prendre en compte différents facteurs tels que la qualité des bois, la croissance et le coût d’installation des différentes densités de plantation et de montrer que la densité de plantation de 500 tiges/ha est optimale pour la production de bois.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute of Wood Industry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, 100091, Beijing, China

    Ze-Hui Jiang, Xiao-Qing Wang, Ben-Hua Fei, Hai-Qing Ren & Xing-E. Liu

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  1. Ze-Hui Jiang
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  2. Xiao-Qing Wang
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Correspondence to Xiao-Qing Wang.

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Jiang, ZH., Wang, XQ., Fei, BH. et al. Effect of stand and tree attributes on growth and wood quality characteristics from a spacing trial with Populus xiaohei . Ann. For. Sci. 64, 807–814 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2007063

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2007063

Annals of Forest Science

ISSN: 1297-966X