Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Development and variation of wood density, kraft pulp yield and fibre dimensions in young Norway spruce (Picea abies)

  • ORIGINAL
  • Published:
Wood Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Important wood, pulp and fibre properties were investigated on small wood samples from two Rumanian, one German and one Norwegian provenance of Norway spruce (Picea abies) grown in Sørkedalen, Norway. Several samples were collected from inside each single tree, both in radial and transversal direction in the stem. Data were collected from a total of 59 trees, each 28 years of age. All investigated properties showed close relationship to ring number (RN) (cambium age). For basic density and fibre wall thickness (FWT), a fast decline was first observed when moving from pith to bark and a minimum value was found around RN 5–8. The declining trend was then followed by an increase. Kraft pulp yield, fibre length and fibre width (FW) also increased with RN, but the increase was most pronounced close to the pith. The pulp yield (PY) more or less stabilised outside of RN 5–6. FW showed a decrease outside of RN 10–12, but this was probably due to the remarkable simultaneous drop in ring width for the investigated trees. FW decreased, while basic density and fibre length increased with increasing height in the tree. PY and FWT were not affected by height in tree. Diameter at breast height (DBH) was the most important variable indicating differences between trees in the investigated material. Basic density, fibre length and FWT decreased, while FW increased with increasing DBH. Height to crown had a positive effect on basic density, but had no influence on any of the remaining properties. Differences between provenances were found for basic density, fibre length and FW. The analyses showed that it is possible to describe the variation inside and between trees satisfactorily for a range of important wood and fibre properties.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

TH:

Tree height distance from butt end to top (m)

HLLB:

Height from butt end to (lowest) living branch (m)

HHC:

Height from butt end to half crown coverage (m)

HFC:

Height from butt end to full crown coverage (m)

DBH:

Diameter at breast height, 1.3 m above butt end (mm)

EA:

Effective alkali, calculated on wood weight (%)

PY:

Kraft pulp yield, calculated on wood weight (%)

BD:

Basic wood density (kg/m3)

DD:

Dry wood density (kg/m3)

CD:

Cell wall density in wood=1,500 kg/m3

C p :

Fibre coarseness in pulp (μg/m)

FW:

Fibre width in wood (μm)

FWT:

Fibre wall thickness in wood (μm)

RN:

Ring number counted from pith

P j :

Provenance number

References

  • Atmer B, Thörnqvist T (1982) The properties of tracheids in spruce (Picea abies Karst.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Department of Forest Products, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Report No. 134, Uppsala, Sweden, p 78 (in Swedish with English summary)

  • Bergstedt A, Olesen PO (2000) Models for predicting dry matter content of Norway spruce. Scand J Forest Res 15:633–644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bisset IJW, Dadswell HE, Wardrop AB (1951) Factors influencing tracheid length in conifer stems. Aust Forestry 15

  • Björklund L (1984) Pulpwood basic density and its dependence on different factors. Department of Forest Products, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Report No. 155, Uppsala, Sweden, p 29 (in Swedish with English summary)

  • Braaten KR (1996) The impact of sites and wood properties on thermo mechanical pulp. Classification of wood for more uniform TMP-quality. Doctor Scientarium Theses 1996:27. NLH, Å s, Norway, ISBN 82-575-0297-9 (in Norwegian with English summary)

  • Braaten KR, Molteberg D (2004) A mathematical method for determining fibre wall thickness and fibre width. Tappi J 3(2):9–12

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brolin A, Norén A, Ståhl EG (1995) Wood and pulp characteristics of juvenile Norway spruce: a comparison between a forest and an agricultural stand. Tappi J 78(4):203–214

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duchesne I, Wilhelmsson L, Spångberg K (1997) Effects of in-forest sorting of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) on wood and fibre properties. Can J Forest Res 27:790–795

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elvebakk å, Sterten G (1998) The influence of annual ring pattern on wood and kraft pulp properties from Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst). Hovedfagsoppgave i treteknologi, Institutt for skogfag, NLH, å s, Norway, p 76

  • Ericson B (1966) Effect of thinning on the basic density and content of latewood and heartwood in Scots pine and Norway spruce. Department of Forest Yield Research. Research Notes 10. Royal College of Forestry, Stockholm, Sweden, p 116 (in Swedish with English summary)

  • Hannrup B, Danell Ö, Ekberg I, Möell M (2001) Relationships between wood density and tracheid dimensions in Pinus sylvestris L. Wood Fiber Sci 33:173–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Hannrup B, Wilhelmsson L, Danell Ö (1998) Time trends for genetic parameters of wood density and growth traits in Pinus sylvestris L. Silvae Genetica 47(4):214–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Høibø OA (1991) Virkeskvaliteten til gran (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) plantet med forskjellig avstand. Doctor Scientarium Theses 1991:13. Department of Forestry, Agricultural University of Norway. å s, Norway, p 125 (in Norwegian with English summary)

  • Jansson U (2000) Influences of raw material quality on softwood Kraft pulp properties. Licentiate Thesis. Department of Pulp and Paper Chemistry and Technology, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden

  • Johansson K (1993) Influence of initial spacing and tree class on the basic density of Picea abies. Scand J Forest Res 1993(8):18–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kibblewhite RP (1989) New Zealand radiata pine market kraft pulp qualities. PAPRO New Zealand Technical Brochure

  • Klem G (1965) Tørrvolumvektsvariasjoner hos vanlig gran (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) i Norge. Nor Skogindustri nr 9/65:348–351

    Google Scholar 

  • Kollmann F, Cöte W (1968) Principles of wood science and technology. 1. Solid wood. Springer, Heidelberg, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Kucera B (1994) A hypothesis relating current annual height increment to juvenile wood formation in Norway spruce. Wood Fiber Sci 26(1):152–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Kure KA (1999) On the relationship between process input variables and fibre characteristics in thermomechanical pulping. Doctoral Thesis. Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

  • Kyrkjeeide PA (1990) A wood quality study of suppressed, intermediate and dominant trees of plantation grown Picea abies. Dissertation for Skogbrukskandidat degree at the agricultural university of Norway. å s, Norway

  • Littell RC, Millilken GA, Stroup WA, Wolfinger RD (1996) SAS System for mixed models. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA, ISBN 1-55544-779-1, p 633

  • Lundquist S-O, Grahn T (2000) Fiber selection for pulp and paper products—opportunities and measurements. In: Usenius A, Kari P (eds) Proceedings from COST E10 Third workshop on measuring of wood properties, grades and qualities in the conversion chains and global wood chain optimization, 10–21 June 2000. Dipoli, Espoo, Finland VTT, pp 273–275

  • Molteberg D (1999) Descriptive models of fibre properties in single trees—a tool for improved pulp and paper quality. Poster presented at COST action E10, Wood Properties for Industrial Use, 2nd Workshop, 13–15 June 1999, Lisboa, Portugal

  • Molteberg D (2001) Norwegian industrial experiences with a system for selecting wood for pulp production. Key note presentation, 5th workshop COST action E10 (Wood properties for Industrial use), 20–23 October 2001, Hurdal, Norway, p 4

  • Molteberg D (2004) Methods for the determination of wood properties, kraft pulp yield and wood fibre dimensions on small wood samples. Wood Sci Technol 37(5):395–410

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mork E (1928) Granvirkets kvalitet særlig med sikte på slip og celluloseved. Papirjournalen, 4–114 (in Norwegian)

  • Nagoda L (1985) Styrkeegenskaper hos gran (Picea abies (L.) Karst) fra Nord Norge målt på trelast i hele dimensjoner. Meddelelser Nor Institutt Skogforskning 38(17):1–31. å s, Norway (in Norwegian)

  • Niskanen K (1998) Paper physics. Fapet Oy, Helsinki, Finland, ISBN 952-5216-16-0

  • Nylinder P (1959) Synspunkter på produktionens kvalitet. Uppsats nr U2, Inst. för virkeslära, Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet, Uppsala, Sweden

  • Nylinder P, Hägglund E (1954) Ståndorts-och trädegenskapers inverkan på utbyte och kvalitet vid framställning av sulfitmassaved av gran. Medd. Statens Skogforskningsinstitut, Meddelande 44, nr 11, Stockholm, Sweden, p 184 (in Swedish with English summary)

  • Olesen PO (1976) The interrelation between basic density and ring width of Norway spruce. Det Forstlige Forsogsv (Denmark) 34:340–359

    Google Scholar 

  • Olesen PO (1977) The variation of the basic density level and tracheid width within the juvenile and mature wood of Norway spruce. Forest tree improvement 12. Akademisk forlag, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Google Scholar 

  • Olesen PO (1982) The effect of cyclophysis on tracheid width and basic density in Norway spruce. Forest Tree Improvement no 15, Arboretet, Hörsholm, Denmark, p 80

    Google Scholar 

  • Paavilainen L (1993) Paperi Puu 75(9–10):689–703

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pape R (1999) Effects of thinning on wood properties of Norway spruce on highly productive sites. Doctoral Thesis. Swedish University of agricultural sciences. Uppsala, Sweden, p 90

  • Persson A (1975) Wood and pulp of Norway spruce and Scots pine at various spacings. Department of Forest Yield Research, Research Notes 37, Royal College of Forestry, Stockholm, Sweden, p 145 (in Swedish with English summary)

  • Resch H, Arganbright D (1968) Variation of specific gravity, extractive content and tracheid length in Redwood trees. Forest Sci 14(2)

  • SAS Institute (2000) JMP statistics and graphics guide, Version 4. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA, ISBN 1-58025-631-7

  • Seth RS, Page DH (1988) Fibre properties and tearing resistance. Tappi J 71(2):103–107

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seth RS, Jang HF, Chan BK, Wu CB (1997) Transverse dimensions of wood pulp fibres and their implications for end use. The fundamentals of papermaking materials, 11th fundamental research symposium, Cambridge, vol 1. Pira International, Surrey, UK, pp 473–503

  • Sirviö J, Kärenlampi P (2001) Fiber property models for Noray spruce trees and logs. Paperi ja Puu 83(6):474–481

    Google Scholar 

  • Sjöström E (1993) Wood chemistry. Fundamentals and applications, 2nd edn. Academic, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Skrøppa T, Hylen G, Dietrichson J (1999). Relationships between wood density components and juvenile height growth and growth rhythm traits for Norway spruce provenances and families. Silvae Genetica 48(5):235–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Skrøppa T, Magnussen S (1993). Provenance variation in shoot growth components of Norway spruce. Silva Genetica 42(2–3):111–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Storebråten S (1990) Sulfatfabrikken—virkesforsyningens søppelplass Foredrag i PTF, Masseteknisk gruppe, 9. oktober, Oslo, Norway, p 25 (in Norwegian)

  • Thörnqvist T (1990) Juvenile wood in coniferous trees. Department of Forest-Industry-Market Studies, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Report 10, Uppsala, Sweden, p 149 (in Swedish with English summary)

  • Wagenführ R (1999) Anatomi des Holzes. DRW, Leipzig, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilhelmsson L (2001) Characterisation of wood properties for improved utilisation of Norway Spruce an Scots pine. Doctoral Thesis. Swedish University of agricultural sciences, Uppsala, Sweden, p 110

  • Wilhelmsson L, Arlinger J, Spångberg K, Lundqvist S-O (2000) Operative wood property predictions by combining diameter measurements from the harvester, tree age information and wood property models. In: Usenius A, Kari P (eds) Proceedings from COST E10 third workshop on measuring of wood properties, grades and qualities in the conversion chains and global wood chain optimization, 10–21 June 2000, Dipoli, Espoo, Finland VTT, pp 167–168

  • Yngvesson M, Jirjis R, Nylinder M (1993) Pulp and chemical properties of wood with different growth rates, from first thinning of spruce. Department of Forest Products, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Report No. 238, p 47 (in Swedish with English summary)

  • Zhang SY, Morgenstern EK (1995) Genetic variation and inheritance of wood density in black spruce (Picea mariana) and its relationship with growth; implications for tree breeding. Wood Sci Technol 30:63–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We want to thank Tore Skrøppa of the Norwegian Forest Research Institute for the research material and Christian Kierulf of the same institute for measuring different tree and stand parameters in the forest, harvesting the trees and transporting the material to the laboratory. Bjørn Slette of the Agriculture University of Norway helped with sample preparation and measurements. Arne Antonsen and Øydis Kveta of Södra Cell Tofte performed the cooking and fibre analyses. Frode Ophdal, from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, also helped with fibre analyses. Södra Cell Tofte and the Research Council of Norway are acknowledged for their financial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432, Aas, Norway

    Dag Molteberg & Olav Høibø

Authors
  1. Dag Molteberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Olav Høibø
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dag Molteberg.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Molteberg, D., Høibø, O. Development and variation of wood density, kraft pulp yield and fibre dimensions in young Norway spruce (Picea abies). Wood Sci Technol 40, 173–189 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-005-0020-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-005-0020-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation