Responses of radial growth, wood density and fiber traits to planting space in poplar plantations at a lowland site

Poplar is raw material for various panel, paper and fiber products. The 12 sample trees of clone Nanlin-895 from four spacings were destructively harvested after thirteen growing seasons to assess the influence of spacing on radial growth and wood properties. Spacing significantly affected tree-ring width and wood basic density (p < 0.05) but not fiber traits. The highest diameter and wood basic density at breast height (1.3 m) was in 6 m × 6 m and 3 m × 8 m spacings, respectively. However, no significant differences in tree-ring width, wood basic density and fiber traits were observed among the four sampling directions in discs taken at 1.3 m for each spacing. Growth rings from the pith and tree heights had significant effects on wood basic density and fiber anatomical characteristics, highlighting obvious temporal-spatial variations. Pearson correlation analysis showed a significantly negative relationship of tree-ring width to wood basic density, fiber length and fiber width, but a significantly positive relationship to hemicellulose. There was no relationship with cellulose and lignin contents. Based on a comprehensive assessment by the TOPSIS method, the 6 m × 6 m spacing is recommended for producing wood fiber at similar sites in the future.

Bioenergy yield of Eucalyptus urophylla clones and its relationship with the mean annual increment of wood volume

This study aimed to evaluate the energy yield and wood characteristics of Eucalyptus urophylla clones with different mean annual increment of wood volume (MAI). The clones presented MAIs of 39.2, 54.1 and 70.0 m3 ha-1 yr-1 in the field experiment at six years after planting when the trees were cut down to evaluate the wood basic density and higher heating values. The energy density, dry mass and energy yield were estimated. The MAI of E. urophylla clones influenced the wood basic density, dry mass, and energy yield, but did not influence the higher heating value and energy density. Clone 3 had the highest MAI, and also had higher energy yield and dry mass, but lower wood basic density. The difference between the most and the least productive clones was 242,648 MJ ha-1 yr-1. The results reinforce the importance of evaluating the wood quantity production (MAI) to select Eucalyptus clones for energy purposes.

Basic density and CO2 sequestration in seven species from the Commemorative Arboretum of 500 Years of Brazil in Alberto Löfgren State Park, São Paulo

Carbon sequestration involves the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere, aiming to reduce the greenhouse effect. Wood basic density is a direct part of this process. We selected five trees in each of the following species to determine wood basic density and quantify carbon, both sequestered and fixed, for 10 years: Alchornea sidifolia, Ceiba speciosa, Gallesia integrifolia, Guazuma ulmifolia, Inga marginata, Maclura tinctoria, and Prunus cerasoides. The study was conducted in the Commemorative Arboretum of 500 Years of Brazil in Alberto Löfgren State Park, São Paulo. Using maximum moisture content capture of CO, we studied variations of wood density and CO2, both fixed and sequestered, by an individual tree in the same species and between species. Values of fixed and sequestered CO2 showed variations among species with a high dependence on wood density such that trees with higher amounts of CO2, both fixed and abducted, were also trees that showed the highest increment both in height and diameter (DBH). Based on these metrics, G. ulmifolia, I. marginata, M. tinctoria, and P. cerasoides showed the most potential to sequester carbon. Our calculations showed that planting these four species would result in the sequestration of around 30 tons of carbon per hectare.

Spectrometric prediction of wood basic density by comparison of different grain angles and variable selection methods

Background Wood basic density (WBD) is one of the most crucial wood property in tree and mainly determined the end use of wood for industry. However, the measurement WBD is time- and cost-consuming, which an alternatively fast and no-destructive measurement is needed. In this study, capability of NIR spectroscopy combined with partial least squares regression (PLSR) to quantify the WBD were examined in multiple wood species. To obtain more accurate and robust prediction models, the grain angle (0° (transverse surface), 45°, 90° (radial surface)) influence on the collection of solid wood spectra and a comparison of found variable selection methods for NIR spectral variables optimization were conducted, including significant Multivariate Correlation (sMC), Regularized elimination procedure (Rep), Iterative predictor weighting (Ipw) and Genetic algorithm (Ga). Models made by random calibration data selection were conducted 200 times performance evaluation. Results These results indicate that 90° angle models display relatively highest efficiency than other angle models, mixed angle model yield a satisfied WBD prediction results as well and could reduce the influence of grain angle. Rep method shows a higher efficiency than other methods which could eliminate the uninformative variables and enhance the predictive performance of 90° angle and mix angle models. Conclusions This study is potentially shown that the WBD (g/cm3) on solid wood across grain angles and varies wood species could be measured in a rapid and efficient way using NIR technology. Combined with the PLSR model, our methodology could serve as a tool for wood properties breeding and silviculture study.

AVALIAÇÃO DE TRÊS MADEIRAS NATIVAS DO CERRADO GOIANO VISANDO À UTILIZAÇÃO ENERGÉTICA

Estudos que visem ampliar o conhecimento das madeiras oriundas do cerrado podem contribuir com o correto manejo das espécies. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade da madeira e do carvão vegetal de três espécies do cerrado (Tachigali vulgaris, Myracrodruon urundeuva e Amburana cearensis) para fins energéticos. Foram amostradas duas árvores por espécie e, destas, foram retirados discos da base, a 25, 50, 75 e 100% da altura total. Para a madeira, determinou-se longitudinalmente a densidade básica, composição química, estoque de carbono, poderes caloríficos superior (PCS) e inferior (PCI) e densidade energética. As carbonizações da madeira foram realizadas em forno elétrico, com temperatura final de 450 ºC e taxa de aquecimento de 1,67 ºC.min-1. A posição longitudinal de amostragem não influenciou a densidade da madeira. A madeira de M. urundeuva apresentou maior densidade básica e PCS, bem como menor teor de materiais voláteis. O carvão da espécie T. vulgaris apresentou a menor densidade aparente (298 kg.m-3) e baixo teor de cinzas (1,14%), porém elevado teor de carbono fixo e PCS. O carvão vegetal da espécie M. urundeuva se destacou com elevada densidade relativa aparente (475 kg.m-3). A ordem das melhores espécies é: M. urundeuva, A. cearensis e T. vulgaris. Palavras-chave: energia renovável; espécies nativas; potencial energético; qualidade do carvão. ASSESSMENT OF THREE NATIVE WOODS FROM CERRADO OF GOIÁS FOR THE ENERGY PURPOSES ABSTRACT: Studies aimed at expanding the knowledge of woods from cerrado can contribute to the correct management of the species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of wood and charcoal of three species from cerrado (Tachigali vulgaris, Myracrodruon urundeuva, and Amburana cearensis) for energy purposes. Two trees per species were sampled and, from these, disks were removed from the base, at 25, 50, 75, and 100% of the total height. For wood, the properties basic density, chemical analysis, carbon stock, higher (HHV) and lower (LHV) heating values were determined longitudinally. Carbonizations were carried out in a muffle furnace with a final temperature of 450 ºC and heating rate of 1.67 ºC.min-1. There was no effect of longitudinal position under the wood basic density. Myracrodruon urundeuva wood had the highest basic density and HHV, as well as the lowest content of volatile matters. The Tachigali vulgaris charcoal had the lowest bulk density (298 kg.m-3) and low ash content (1.14%), but a high content of fixed carbon and HHV. Charcoal of the species M. urundeuva stood out with high apparent relative density (475 kg.m-3). The order of the best species is M. urundeuva, A. cearensis, and T. vulgaris. Keywords: renewable energy; native species; energy potential; charcoal quality.

Modelling and quantifying tree biometric properties of dry Afromontane forests of south-central Ethiopia

Key message Models for quantifying tree biometric properties, imperative for forest management decision-making, including height, diameter, bark thickness and volume were developed, and wood basic density was documented for dry Afromontane forests of south-central Ethiopia. Abstract Tree biometric properties such as height (ht), diameter at breast height (dbh), bark thickness (bt), volume and wood basic density (wbd) are imperative for forest management decision-making. For dry Afromontane forests in south-central Ethiopia, models for quantifying such tree properties are totally lacking. This study, therefore, aimed at developing models for ht based on dbh, for dbh based on stump height diameter (dsh), for bt based on dbh, for volume based on dbh, ht and crown width (crw), as well as documenting wbd data. Comprehensive and representative datasets were collected from Degaga–Gambo and Wondo Genet forests. The ht, dbh and bt modelling were based on 1345 sampled trees during forest inventories, while the volume modelling and wbd documentation were based on 63 destructively sampled trees from 30 species covering 87% of the total basal area in the study sites. Weighted least squares regression was applied for modelling and leave one out cross-validation was used for evaluation. The ht–dbh and dbh–dsh models performed well (pseudo-R2 = 0.72 and 0.98), while bt–dbh performed poorer (pseudo-R2 = 0.42). Models for the total tree, merchantable stem and branches volume were developed with different options for independent variables, where pseudo-R2 varied from 0.74 to 0.98, with smallest values for the branches models The models may be applied to forests outside the present study sites provided that the growing conditions are carefully evaluated. The species-wise wbd was ranging from 0.426 to 0.979 g cm−3, with the overall mean of 0.588 g cm−3. The wbd data will be useful for building up a national wbd database and may also be included in the Global Wood Density database. The study represents a significant step towards sustainable forest management including REDD + MRV practices in the dry Afromontane forests of south-central Ethiopia.