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Veneer grades, recoveries, and values from 5-year-old eucalypt clones

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Abstract

Context

Processing young, small eucalypt logs into veneer is a burgeoning industry across southern China. However, plantations supplying these logs were mostly established for pulpwood; little information is available on variation and selection among commercial eucalypt clones/varieties in regards to suitability for veneer production.

Methods

Tree growth and log form were assessed on 11 eucalypt clones from a 5-year-old trial in southern China. Logs from these were rotary peeled for veneer; recovery percentages plus a range of quality and value traits were assessed on the outturn.

Results

Tree volumes, green veneer recovery ratios (%), veneer quality grades, log value, and value m−3 varied significantly among both clones and log positions up the stem. The clone with the best veneer recovery ratio (50.5 %) provided nearly twice that of the poorest clone (28.4 %). Average veneer value log−1 by clone ranged from RMB 6.7 (US$1) up to RMB 15.1 (US$2) and average value m−3 by clone ranged from 589 RMB m−3 (US$88) up to 925 RMB m−3 (US$139). Overall, sweep was the key factor influencing veneer recovery ratio and value. Knots, especially dead knots, holes and splitting were major factors influencing veneer quality grade. Middle and upper logs had significantly higher veneer recoveries, grades, and values m−3 than the lower logs.

Conclusions

Excellent potential exists for selecting among eucalypt clones, and even among log positions within trees, for optimizing veneer production.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to the China Eucalypt Research Center for supporting this study and to JG Cao, Y Jiang, FY Han, HL Zhang, LL He, PJ Zhang, and DY Wei for assistance with data collection. We are also grateful to two anonymous reviewers for constructive comments and suggestions on earlier drafts of this manuscript.

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by China’s State Forest Administration through the project ‘Studies to improve key technologies on ecological management and utilization’ (Project no. 201104003).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. China Eucalypt Research Centre, 30 Mid Renmin Dadao, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524022, China

    Jianzhong Luo, Roger Arnold, Wanhong Lu, Yan Peng & Yaojian Xie

  2. Guangxi Forest Research Institute, Nanning, Guangxi, China

    Shiqi Ren & Ying Jiang

Authors
  1. Jianzhong Luo
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  2. Roger Arnold
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  3. Shiqi Ren
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  4. Ying Jiang
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  5. Wanhong Lu
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  6. Yan Peng
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  7. Yaojian Xie
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roger Arnold.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Jean-Michel Leban

Contributions of the co-authors

Jianzhong Luo: designing the sampling strategy and assessment traits, background research, field logistics, coordinating the research project, writing the paperRoger ARNOLD: advising on design of study and data collection, organizing data, carrying out data analyses, writing the paperShiqi REN: designing the sampling strategy and assessment traits, background research, field logistics, assessments and data collection, writing the paperYing JIANG: field logistics, assessments and data collection, compiling data, and pre-processing dataWanhong LU: field logistics, assessments and data collection, compiling dataYan PENG: designing the sampling strategy and assessment traits, background research, writing the paperYaojian XIE: background research, coordination the research project, managing project funding, writing the paper

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Table 6 Grading criteria adopted in this study—these grades are those specified in the “People’s Republic of China Veneer Grading Standard “Rotary Veneer (LY/T 1599-2002)” (issued 12/10/2002)
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Luo, J., Arnold, R., Ren, S. et al. Veneer grades, recoveries, and values from 5-year-old eucalypt clones. Annals of Forest Science 70, 417–428 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-013-0268-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-013-0268-x

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