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Modelling wood property variation among Tasmanian Eucalyptus nitens plantations

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 01:33 authored by Vega, M, Peter Harrison, Hamilton, M, Musk, R, Adams, P, Bradley PottsBradley Potts
Characterisation of forest resources is increasingly focused on tree wood properties as they are important drivers of economic value. We used the Random Forests machine learning algorithm to model variability among plantations of Eucalyptus nitens in key wood properties affecting the value of solid-wood products. Using breast-height disk samples from 46 even-aged stands of different ages across the island of Tasmania, Australia, we modelled site variation in SilviScan-3TM derived estimates of wood density, microfibril angle and modulus of elasticity. Regional-scale models were developed with respect to plantation age, environmental and climatic variables. Wood density and MOE increased, and MFA decreased with age. Wood density and MOE decreased and MFA increased with elevation. Increasing elevation is associated with increasing annual precipitation and decreasing temperature, but the variation in wood properties was mainly associated with precipitation. Wood density decreased and MFA increased with annual precipitation. MOE was positively related to wood density and negatively related to MFA, thus as expected, increased with annual precipitation. Using the Random Forests climate models we demonstrate the potential for predicting and mapping wood properties relevant for solid wood products at a scale that is relevant to strategic planning by the forest industry. Such models allow quantification of the impact of different growing conditions on the wood properties of harvested logs and therefore on wood products. When coupled with genetic, growth and economic models, these wood property models have the potential to assist in characterisation of standing forest resources and future estate planning.

Funding

Australian Research Council

Forest & Wood Products Australia Limited

Forestry Tasmania

Forico Pty Ltd

Greening Australia (TAS) Ltd

JM Roberts Charitable Trust

Sustainable Forest Management Pty Ltd

History

Publication title

Forest Ecology and Management

Volume

491

Article number

119203

Number

119203

Pagination

1-11

ISSN

0378-1127

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Elsevier Science Bv

Place of publication

Po Box 211, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1000 Ae

Rights statement

© 2021 Elsevier B.V.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Hardwood plantations

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