Choice of Silvicultural System Influences Internal Wood Characteristics of Sugar Maple
| Authors: | Yvette L. Dickinson, Christel C. Kern, Robert J. Ross, Xiping Wang |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Type: | Proceedings - Paper |
| Station: | Northern Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.2737/NRS-GTR-P-211-paper29 |
| Source: | In: Kern, Christel C.; Dickinson, Yvette L., eds. Proceedings of the first biennial Northern Hardwood Conference 2021: Bridging science and management for the future. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-211. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 147–151. |
Abstract
Quality is an important determinant of the end use of wood, and therefore its value. Silviculture and growing environment can influence wood characteristics of softwood species (Barnett and Jeronimidis 2003, Shmulsky and Jones 2011, Zobel and Van Buijtenen 1989); however, less is known about these influences in hardwoods (Dickinson et al. 2019). A number of tree species typical of northern hardwood forests such as sugar maple have been conventionally utilized primarily for aesthetic applications and are therefore graded visually. However, the recent expansion of engineered wood products has created new potential uses for hardwoods (Ross and Erickson 2005, 2020), and a greater understanding of wood quality is needed to allow continued development of these engineered wood products.