Does Thinning Intensity Affect Wood Quality? An Analysis of Calabrian Pine in Southern Italy Using a Non-Destructive Acoustic Method
In the middle of XIX century, Calabrian pine was planted in southern Italy to increase the forest cover in mountainous areas. Many of these forest stands were never managed, since they were considered non-profitable for wood production. Therefore, in order to promote timber value, it is fundamental...
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doaj-d5e6394cc822418c97f4b3803c1c272a2020-11-25T00:50:04ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072019-04-0110430310.3390/f10040303f10040303Does Thinning Intensity Affect Wood Quality? An Analysis of Calabrian Pine in Southern Italy Using a Non-Destructive Acoustic MethodDiego Russo0Pasquale A. Marziliano1Giorgio Macri2Andrea R. Proto3Giuseppe Zimbalatti4Fabio Lombardi5Department of AGRARIA, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, 89122 Reggio Calabria, ItalyDepartment of AGRARIA, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, 89122 Reggio Calabria, ItalyDepartment of AGRARIA, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, 89122 Reggio Calabria, ItalyDepartment of AGRARIA, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, 89122 Reggio Calabria, ItalyDepartment of AGRARIA, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, 89122 Reggio Calabria, ItalyDepartment of AGRARIA, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, 89122 Reggio Calabria, ItalyIn the middle of XIX century, Calabrian pine was planted in southern Italy to increase the forest cover in mountainous areas. Many of these forest stands were never managed, since they were considered non-profitable for wood production. Therefore, in order to promote timber value, it is fundamental to study, more deeply, the characteristics and management options for this species. The acoustic technologies applied to predict the mechanical and physical properties of timber are well-established practices in forest research. In this study, we hypothesized that the tree stand density could influence the dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEd) and, therefore, the future wood quality. We specifically aimed to verify if different management options, when applied, could influence the timber quality of Calabrian pine growing in similar environmental conditions. The study was conducted in the Aspromonte National Park (Calabria, Southern Italy). We derived the MOEd values from data obtained by the acoustic velocity measured through the TreeSonic™ timer. Calabrian pine trees were selected in stands where different intensities of thinning were applied eleven years before this study began (no thinning, thinning 25%, thinning 50%, and thinning 75%). The percentage refers to the number of trees cut with respect to the total number of occurring trees. The analyses were conducted on a total of 804 trees (201 trees for each intensity of thinning). A strong positive correlation was observed between the acoustic velocity, the thinning treatments and diameter at breast height (DBH). The thinning realized at 25% induced better tree wood quality. We also analyzed the best predictors for MOEd estimation, using variables easily measurable in the field, such as tree diameter, tree height, or their transformations (number of trees per hectare, basal area per hectare). We provide, here, a useful tool for predicting the wood stiffness in relation to stand parameters easily measurable in forest inventories.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/10/4/303<i>Pinus nigra</i> Arnold subsp. <i>calabrica</i>thinning intensityMediterranean mountain forestsacoustic velocitymodulus of elasticitypredictors for wood quality |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Diego Russo Pasquale A. Marziliano Giorgio Macri Andrea R. Proto Giuseppe Zimbalatti Fabio Lombardi |
spellingShingle |
Diego Russo Pasquale A. Marziliano Giorgio Macri Andrea R. Proto Giuseppe Zimbalatti Fabio Lombardi Does Thinning Intensity Affect Wood Quality? An Analysis of Calabrian Pine in Southern Italy Using a Non-Destructive Acoustic Method Forests <i>Pinus nigra</i> Arnold subsp. <i>calabrica</i> thinning intensity Mediterranean mountain forests acoustic velocity modulus of elasticity predictors for wood quality |
author_facet |
Diego Russo Pasquale A. Marziliano Giorgio Macri Andrea R. Proto Giuseppe Zimbalatti Fabio Lombardi |
author_sort |
Diego Russo |
title |
Does Thinning Intensity Affect Wood Quality? An Analysis of Calabrian Pine in Southern Italy Using a Non-Destructive Acoustic Method |
title_short |
Does Thinning Intensity Affect Wood Quality? An Analysis of Calabrian Pine in Southern Italy Using a Non-Destructive Acoustic Method |
title_full |
Does Thinning Intensity Affect Wood Quality? An Analysis of Calabrian Pine in Southern Italy Using a Non-Destructive Acoustic Method |
title_fullStr |
Does Thinning Intensity Affect Wood Quality? An Analysis of Calabrian Pine in Southern Italy Using a Non-Destructive Acoustic Method |
title_full_unstemmed |
Does Thinning Intensity Affect Wood Quality? An Analysis of Calabrian Pine in Southern Italy Using a Non-Destructive Acoustic Method |
title_sort |
does thinning intensity affect wood quality? an analysis of calabrian pine in southern italy using a non-destructive acoustic method |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Forests |
issn |
1999-4907 |
publishDate |
2019-04-01 |
description |
In the middle of XIX century, Calabrian pine was planted in southern Italy to increase the forest cover in mountainous areas. Many of these forest stands were never managed, since they were considered non-profitable for wood production. Therefore, in order to promote timber value, it is fundamental to study, more deeply, the characteristics and management options for this species. The acoustic technologies applied to predict the mechanical and physical properties of timber are well-established practices in forest research. In this study, we hypothesized that the tree stand density could influence the dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEd) and, therefore, the future wood quality. We specifically aimed to verify if different management options, when applied, could influence the timber quality of Calabrian pine growing in similar environmental conditions. The study was conducted in the Aspromonte National Park (Calabria, Southern Italy). We derived the MOEd values from data obtained by the acoustic velocity measured through the TreeSonic™ timer. Calabrian pine trees were selected in stands where different intensities of thinning were applied eleven years before this study began (no thinning, thinning 25%, thinning 50%, and thinning 75%). The percentage refers to the number of trees cut with respect to the total number of occurring trees. The analyses were conducted on a total of 804 trees (201 trees for each intensity of thinning). A strong positive correlation was observed between the acoustic velocity, the thinning treatments and diameter at breast height (DBH). The thinning realized at 25% induced better tree wood quality. We also analyzed the best predictors for MOEd estimation, using variables easily measurable in the field, such as tree diameter, tree height, or their transformations (number of trees per hectare, basal area per hectare). We provide, here, a useful tool for predicting the wood stiffness in relation to stand parameters easily measurable in forest inventories. |
topic |
<i>Pinus nigra</i> Arnold subsp. <i>calabrica</i> thinning intensity Mediterranean mountain forests acoustic velocity modulus of elasticity predictors for wood quality |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/10/4/303 |
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