The Wood Density of Pure and Mixed Norway Spruce, Scots Pine, and Silver Birch Stands in Lithuania Using IML Resi

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Abstract

The transition from pure to mixed-species forest stands is increasingly promoted to enhance ecosystem stability and multifunctionality. The growth conditions may influence the physical and mechanical properties of wood. This study evaluated wood density in pure and mixed stands of silver birch, Norway spruce, and Scots pine in Lithuania and analyzed its relationships with tree allometric parameters. Nine study plots representing pure (100%) and mixed (70/30%) stands were established under comparable site conditions. Wood density at breast height was assessed using resistance drilling (IML Resi PD500), and the increment core samples were analyzed with the LIGNOSTATION™ system. The mean values of wood density for silver birch differed by 11%, depending on the wood density determination method used. Differences between pure and mixed stands were insignificant and generally did not exceed 6%–10%. No consistent trend that was attributable to species mixing was identified. The combined data from pure and mixed stands indicate that the mean wood density, converted from microdrilling measurements, was highest in silver birch (546 kg m−3 ± 1.87 kg m−3), followed by Scots pine (476 kg m−3 ± 1.85 kg m−3) and Norway spruce (437 kg m−3 ± 1.66 kg m−3). Resistance drilling showed a moderate relationship with the core samples’ wood density (R2 = 0.59), supporting its suitability as a semi-nondestructive method. Diameter at breast height was the only tree parameter that was consistently significant across all predictive models. The combined model for all species explained up to 43% of wood density variation, while species-specific models had lower explanatory power. Overall, the results indicate that species mixing has a limited effect on wood density under the studied conditions and is unlikely to substantially alter wood quality in terms of wood density.

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