Wood Properties of Spruce from Forests Affected by Pollution in Czechoslovakia

Abstract

Density, shrinkage, fibre saturation point, annual ring width, compression strength parallel and perpendicular to the grain, ben ding strength, modulus of el ast i city , toughness, and moisture diffusion coefficient are reported for heavily affected spruce trees (Picea excelsa Link) from a forest area in Czechoslovakia exposed to industrial air pollution. Wood density in strongly diseased and dead trees was lower than in healthy trees. This decrease in density is associated with decreasing strength properties. However, at similar low densities the mechanical wood properties of affected and heaIthy spruce do not differ appreciably.