Abstract
The use of calibrated near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for predicting tracheid length of Pinus taeda L. (loblolly pine) wood samples is described. Ten-mm sections of 14 P. taeda radial strips were selected and NIR spectra obtained from the radial longitudinal face of each section. The fibers in these sections were characterized in terms of arithmetic and length-weighted mean tracheid length using a fiber quality analyzer, and calibrations with NIR spectra were developed for both measures of tracheid length. Relationships were good, with coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.88 for arithmetic tracheid length and 0.96 for length-weighted tracheid length. The accuracy of NIR predicted length-weighted tracheid length was sufficient for ranking purposes.
Copyright © 2004 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
