Influence of the Tree Decay Duration on Mechanical Stability of Norway Spruce Wood (Picea abies (L.) Karst.)

Abstract

Wood properties have an influence on the safety around the tree itself as well as on actual possibilities of using wood. The article focuses on the wood properties of the Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) in reference to the time since the tree has decayed. The study was conducted among mature tree stands of spruce in Białowieża Forest, where over the last 10 years there has been a weakening of spruce tree stands due to water deficiency which has contributed to the gradation of the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus). The study focused on spruce wood of living and healthy specimens as well as the wood of standing trees which has decayed between one and five years before the sample was collected. The findings indicate a gradual decrease in wood properties as time passed since the physiological decay of the tree. Significant differences in the decrease of mechanical wood properties have been observed in trees which had been decayed for 3 years and they should be considered life and health hazard for people and animals.