Partial resistance drilling to assess wood density in trees

Abstract

Increment core analysis has dominated research for more than half a century and has been used as a standard method for assessing basic wood density in forests, for determining biomass of ecosystems, and for investigating climate history through dendrochronological analysis. Comprehensive wood density models have been developed for commercially important species that use outer wood cores and knowledge of internal wood density distribution to fairly accurately predict the density of major tree components. With the development of SilviScan and near infrared spectroscopy instruments, more wood and fiber properties can be obtained from a single increment core sample, allowing comprehensive wood quality evaluation of plantation trees for genetic improvement, forest management, and optimal wood utilization. However, for many users or in many applications, increment core sampling and subsequent laboratory analysis are time-consuming and expensive. A rapid field-type nondestructive method is needed in various research programs and forest operations. This report provides an in-depth review of the traditional increment coring method and the more recent electronic resistance drilling technique for assessing wood density of trees. This report also proposes a new concept of partial resistance drilling for more efficient and economical collection of wood density data in the forest.

Citation

Wang, Xiping. 2017. Partial resistance drilling to assess wood density in trees. In: Wang, X.; Senalik, C.A.; Ross, R.J., eds. Proceedings, 20th international nondestructive testing and evaluation of wood symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. FPL-GTR-249. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory: 22-35.