Wood density variation in Serbian Spruce: A comparative study of natural stands and plantations

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Abstract

Serbian spruce (Picea omorika Pančić/Purkyně) is a Tertiary relict and an endemic species of the Balkan Peninsula, whose limited distribution range and pronounced ecological specificity make the study of its physical properties particularly important. The objective of this research was to determine the differences in wood density between Serbian spruce originating from plantations and from natural stands, as well as to analyze the variation of density in both axial and radial directions. The research was carried out at five locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Dubrava, Srebrenica, Gostilja, Stolac 1, and Stolac 2), using a total of 3,117 specimens. Wood density was determined in the oven-dry, air-dry, and green states, as well as by its nominal value. The average oven-dry wood density was 0.421 g/cm³ in plantations and 0.487 g/cm³ in natural stands. An increase in density with tree height was observed in natural stands, which contrasts with the typical trend in spruce and suggests an adaptive mechanism of the trees to static and dynamic loads. Radially, the density increased from pith to bark, consistent with the higher proportion of latewood. Significant correlations were established between wood density, ring width, and the proportion of latewood. The obtained results indicate that Serbian spruce can represent a sustainable alternative to Norway spruce in technical and industrial applications.

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