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Radial variation of wood density components and ring width in cork oak trees

Variation radiale des composantes de la microdensité du bois et de la largeur de cerne dans le chêne-liège

Annals of Forest Science volume 64, pages 211–218 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The radial variation of ring width and wood density was studied in cork oaks (Quercus suber) using microdensitometry. The observations were made in young never debarked cork oaks (30–40 years of age) and in mature trees under cork production (37–60 years of age). The cork oak wood is very dense (mean ring density 0.86 g.cm−3, between 0.79 g.cm−3 and 0.97 g.cm−3) with a small intra-ring variability (mean earlywood density 0.80 g.cm−3 and latewood density 0.90 g.cm−3). The density components decreased from pith to bark more rapidly until the 15th ring, and then only slightly. There were no significant differences in the mean density components between never debarked trees and trees under cork production but their outwards decrease was accentuated in the never debarked trees. The annual growth was high, with a ring width mean of 3.9 mm (4.2 mm in the first 30 years) and the latewood represented 57% of the annual growth.

Résumé

La variation radiale de la largeur des cernes et de la densité du bois a été étudiée dans le chêne-liège (Quercus suber) par microdensitométrie. Les observations ont été réalisées dans des arbres jeunes jamais écorcés (âge 30–40 ans) et des arbres en phase de production de liège (37–60 ans). Le bois de chêne-liège est très dense (densité moyenne 0,86 g.cm−3, variant entre 0,79 g.cm−3 et 0,97 g.cm−3) avec une variabilité dans le cerne faible (densité moyenne du bois initial 0,80 g.cm−3 et du bois final 0,97 g.cm−3). Les composantes de la densité diminuent du cœur à la périphérie rapidement jusqu’au 15e cerne, puis plus lentement. Les différences entre valeurs moyennes des composantes de la densité du bois des arbres non écorcés et écorcés ne sont pas statistiquement significatives, quoique la diminution radiale soit plus accentuée dans les arbres non écorcés. La croissance annuelle était élevée avec une largeur moyenne de cerne de 3,9 mm (4,2 mm dans les premiers 30 ans) avec le bois final correspondant à 57 % de la croissance annuelle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Estudos Florestais, Institute Superior de Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisboa, Portugal

    Sofia Knapic, Sofia Leal & Helena Pereira

  2. Departamento Florestal, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal

    José L. Louzada

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  1. Sofia Knapic
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Correspondence to Helena Pereira.

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Knapic, S., Louzada, J.L., Leal, S. et al. Radial variation of wood density components and ring width in cork oak trees. Ann. For. Sci. 64, 211–218 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2006105

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Annals of Forest Science

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