The effect of girdling on the moisture content of small-sized trees |
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| Authors: | Jussi Laurila Risto Lauhanen Tuomas Hakonen |
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| Institution: | 1. The Regional Unit of South and Central Ostrobothnia, The Finnish Forest Centre, Huhtalantie 2, FI-60220 Sein?joki, Finlandjussi.laurila@gmail.com;3. School of Food and Agriculture, Sein?joki University of Applied Sciences, Kalevankatu 35, FI-60100 Sein?joki, Finland |
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| Abstract: | In this study, the effect of girdling on the moisture content of small-sized trees for heat energy production was clarified. The moisture content was measured for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Norway spruce (Picea abies), and Downy birch (Betula pubescens) during two growing seasons after girdling. The trees were girdled at breast height for around 30 cm by removing the bark, phloem, and cambium from around the stem. At the beginning of the growing season the mean moisture content of the living Scots pine (P. sylvestris) and Norway spruce (P. abies) was 60%, and for Downy birch (B. pubescens) it was 50%. During the first growing season the effect of girdling on the moisture content was low, but during the second growing season the moisture content decreased significantly. The moisture content of the Norway spruce (P. abies) (23%) and Downy birch (B. pubescens) (33%) was at its lowest point at 14 months after girdling. There were no significant changes in the moisture content of the Scots pine (P. sylvestris) in this study. The results of this study can be used in basic research and in the development of energy wood production. |
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| Keywords: | drying energy wood girdling moisture content small-sized tree |
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