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Effect of early release from intense competition within high density natural regeneration on the properties of juvenile and mature wood of 40-year-old Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.)

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Abstract

• Contex t

While numerous studies have considered the effects of initial planting spacing on wood properties, little is known about the properties of trees grown from dense natural regeneration and the effects of early release from competition.

• Aims

This study examined 40-year-old Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) trees originating from regeneration with an initial density ∼27,000 stems ha−1.

• Methods

Treatments were a control of natural regeneration with no interventions and regeneration re-spaced to two metres (height ∼1.6 m). Density and strength measurements were made on the juvenile and mature wood.

• Results

No differences were observed in density, modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) between the juvenile and mature wood of the control trees. By contrast, the juvenile wood of re-spaced trees was less dense and had a lower MOE than the mature wood.

• Conclusion

The control trees revealed a uniformity of properties across the juvenile and mature wood zones, unlike the re-spaced treatment. Re-spaced trees appear to adapt to their new environment by producing more thin-walled conductive tissue and lowering overall cell wall density that continues from the juvenile to mature wood. Higher compression wood levels in the control trees are thought to be linked to stem slenderness.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Shaun Mochan and Colin McEvoy of Forest Research for their assistance in the collection of the sample trees, to Douglas Proudfoot of the University of Aberdeen for his meticulous preparation of the wood samples, to Gavin Davies and Adam Mclean for assistance with the laboratory work and to Bill Mason of Forest Research for his earlier work at the experimental site that inspired the current study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, Scotland, UK

    Andrew D. Cameron

  2. Forest Research, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9SY, Scotland, UK

    Barry A. Gardiner

  3. Centre for Timber Engineering, Edinburgh Napier University, Merchiston Campus, 10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH10 5DT, Scotland, UK

    James Ramsay & Tom A. Drewett

Authors
  1. Andrew D. Cameron
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  2. Barry A. Gardiner
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  3. James Ramsay
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  4. Tom A. Drewett
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew D. Cameron.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Jean-Michel Leban

Contribution of the co-authors

The second author was involved with setting up the project and providing guidance throughout. The third and fourth authors carried out most of the field work. The first author proposed the study, set up the funding, carried out most of the data analysis and drafted the paper.

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Cameron, A.D., Gardiner, B.A., Ramsay, J. et al. Effect of early release from intense competition within high density natural regeneration on the properties of juvenile and mature wood of 40-year-old Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.). Annals of Forest Science 72, 99–107 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-014-0402-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-014-0402-4

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