Abstract
AbstractResearch on mixed forests has mostly focused on tree growth and productivity, or resistance and resilience in changing climate conditions, but only rarely on the effects of tree species mixing on timber quality. In particular, it is still unclear whether the numerous positive effects of mixed forests on productivity and stability come at the expense of timber quality. In this study, we used photographs of sawn boards from 90 European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) trees of mixed and pure forest stands to analyze internal timber quality through the quality indicator knot surface that was quantitatively assessed using the software Datinf® Measure. We observed a decrease in knot surface with increasing distance from the pith as well as smaller values in the lower log sections. Regarding the influence of neighborhood species identity, we found only minor effects meaning that timber qualities in mixed stands of beech and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) tended to be slightly worse compared to pure beech stands.
Funder
Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Reference66 articles.
1. Aicher S, Ahmad Z, Hirsch M (2018) Bondline shear strength and wood failure of European and tropical hardwood glulams. Eur J Wood Prod 76:1205–1222
2. Ammann S, Schlegel S, Beyer M et al (2016) Quality assessment of glued ash wood for construction engineering. Eur J Wood Prod 74:67–74
3. Ammer C (2019) Diversity and forest productivity in a changing climate. New Phytol 221:50–66
4. Ammer C, Bickel E, Kölling C (2008) Converting Norway spruce stands with beech—a review of arguments and techniques. Austrian J For Sci 125:3–26
5. Ammer C (2017) Unraveling the importance of inter- and intraspecific competition for the adaption of forests to climate change. In: Canovas FM, Lüttge U, Matyssek R (eds) Progress in Botany. Springer, Cham, Switzerland, pp 345–367