Article
 

Effects of Silviculture and Genetics on Branch/Knot Attributes of Coastal Pacific Northwest Douglas-Fir and Implications for Wood Quality—A Synthesis

Public Deposited

Downloadable Content

Download PDF
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/ht24wm28t

Descriptions

Attribute NameValues
Creator
Abstract
  • Douglas-fir is the most commercially important timber species in the US Pacific Northwest due to its ecological prevalence and its superior wood attributes, especially strength and stiffness properties that make it highly prized for structural applications. Its economic significance has led to extensive establishment and management of plantations over the last few decades. Cultural treatments and genetic improvement designed to increase production of utilizable wood volume also impact tree morphology and wood properties. Many of these impacts are mediated by crown development, particularly the amount and distribution of foliage and size and geometry of branches. Natural selection for branch architecture that optimizes reproductive fitness may not necessarily be optimal for stem volume growth rate or for wood properties controlling the quality of manufactured solid wood products. Furthermore, Douglas-fir does not self-prune within the rotation lengths currently practiced. This paper synthesizes extensive Douglas-fir research in the Pacific Northwest addressing: (1) the effects of silviculture and genetics on branch structure and associated consequences for wood quality and the product value chain; and (2) methods to measure, monitor, modify, and model branch attributes to assist managers in selecting appropriate silvicultural techniques to achieve wood quality objectives and improve the value of their Douglas-fir resource.
  • Keywords: Genetics, Wood quality, Branch, Douglas-fir, Silviculture
Resource Type
DOI
Date Available
Date Issued
Citation
  • Lowell, E. C., Maguire, D. A., Briggs, D. G., Turnblom, E. C., Jayawickrama, K. J. S., & Bryce, J. (2014). Effects of Silviculture and Genetics on Branch/Knot Attributes of Coastal Pacific Northwest Douglas-Fir and Implications for Wood Quality—A Synthesis. Forests, 5(7), 1717-1736. doi:10.3390/f5071717
Journal Title
Journal Volume
  • 5
Journal Issue/Number
  • 7
Rights Statement
Funding Statement (additional comments about funding)
  • Genetic parameters for forking and ramicorn branching were estimated by Terrance Ye (Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University) with funding from the Northwest Tree Improvement Cooperative (NWTIC). The NWTIC also funded KJSJ's time working on this paper. Jed Bryce and Eric Turnblom were partially supported by the Stand Management Cooperative, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington for their contributions to this paper.
Publisher
Peer Reviewed
Language
Replaces

Relationships

Parents:

This work has no parents.

Items

Thumbnail Title Date Uploaded Visibility Actions
file details MaguireDouglasForestryEffectsSilvicultureGenetics.pdf 2017-07-26 Public Download