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Factors affecting log traits and green rotary-peeled veneer recovery from temperate eucalypt plantations

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Abstract

Key message

High levels of percentage green veneer recovery can be obtained from temperate eucalypt plantations. Recovery traits are affected by site and log position in the stem. Of the post-felling log traits studied, out-of-roundness was the best predictor of green recovery.

Context

Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus nitens are widely planted in temperate regions of the globe but few studies of rotary peeling have been documented.

Aims

This study aims to examine differences among sites and log positions in post-felling log traits and green veneer recovery traits and determine the extent to which log traits explain variation in recovery traits.

Methods

Log traits and green rotary-peeled veneer recovery traits from six temperate eucalypt plantations were studied. Selected plantations encompassed different age, site productivity, silvicultural and species classes in south-eastern Australia. Differences in log and recovery traits among sites and between lower and upper logs were examined, as was the extent to which log traits explained variation in recovery traits.

Results

Differences among sites for percentage recovered green veneer were non-significant, despite significant differences for peelable billet volume, roundup loss, residual core diameter and all post-felling log traits: small end diameter, sweep, taper, out-of-roundness, end splitting and dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEdyn). The lower log exhibited more sweep, taper and out-of-roundness but lower MOEdyn and less recovered green veneer. Out-of-roundness was the best predictor of recovery traits (R 2 = 13–21 %, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Recovered green veneer was high across all sites and log positions (78 % overall).

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge Forestry Tasmania (FT), Australian Bluegum Plantations (ABP), New Forests, PF Olsen and David Swann for the assistance in project planning, access to sites, the provision of trees and staff, tree felling, and log transport; Island Specialty Timbers (IST) and ABP for use of their log yards, and log handling; and Austral Plywoods for peeling large-diameter logs. Specifically, we thank Mark Hunt (NCFFI and UTAS), Chris Emmett (IST), Peter Wass, Crispen Marunda, Kristen Dransfield, Matt McCormic, Mitchell Fulford, Paul Adams, Rowan Eiszele, Shane Burgess (FT), Phil Mason and Christian Hong-Tan (New Forests), Stephen Rymer and Noel Bull (PF Olsen), Nigel Miller and Paddy Noonan (Forestech Management), Mark Diedrichs, Alan Rossouw, Simon Malseed (ABP), Chris Harwood (CSIRO), Rowan Reid and staff at the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Salisbury Research Centre for their technical and/or professional assistance.

Funding

We thank the National Centre for Future Forest Industries (NCFFI) for funding.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania (UTAS), Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia

    Matthew G. Hamilton, David P. Blackburn, Mario Vega & Brad M. Potts

  2. National Centre for Future Forest Industries, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia

    Matthew G. Hamilton, David P. Blackburn, Robert L. McGavin, Henri Baillères, Mario Vega & Brad M. Potts

  3. Department of Forest Ecosystem Science, University of Melbourne, 500 Yarra Boulevard, Richmond, Victoria, 3121, Australia

    Robert L. McGavin

  4. Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Horticulture and Forestry Science, Salisbury Research Facility, 50 Evans Road, Salisbury, Queensland, 4107, Australia

    Robert L. McGavin & Henri Baillères

Authors
  1. Matthew G. Hamilton
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  2. David P. Blackburn
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  3. Robert L. McGavin
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  4. Henri Baillères
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  5. Mario Vega
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  6. Brad M. Potts
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthew G. Hamilton.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Jean-Michel Leban

Contribution of the co-authors

All authors undertook writing/editing the manuscript and all, except Brad Potts, were involved in data collection. Matthew Hamilton oversaw the selection, felling and transport of logs, undertook statistical analyses and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Robert McGavin and Henri Bailleres oversaw the peeling of logs.

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Hamilton, M.G., Blackburn, D.P., McGavin, R.L. et al. Factors affecting log traits and green rotary-peeled veneer recovery from temperate eucalypt plantations. Annals of Forest Science 72, 357–365 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-014-0430-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-014-0430-0

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