1

THE INFLUENCE OF SITE FACTORS ON WOOD DENSITY AND MOISTURE

CONTENT OF BEECH IN THE UKRAINIAN CARPATHIANS
Dr. Ivan Sopushynskyy*, Docent, Dr. Ivan Vintoniv,
Department of Botany, Wood Science and Non Wood Forest Products
Ukrainian State University of Forestry and Wood Technology
Gen. Chuprynka 103, Lviv 78057, Ukraine
Tel.: +380 322 390611 and +380 322 419524
Fax.: +380 322 351357
E-mail.:sopushynskyy@yahoo.com / sopushynskyy@mail.ru
*an award holder of the NATO Science Fellowships, Forest Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
Prof. Dr. Alfred Teischinger
Institute of Wood Science and Technology
University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences
A-1180 Vienna, Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 33
Austria
Dr. Roman Michalak
Department of Forest Management Planning and Monitoring
Forest Research Institute
ul. Bitwy Warszawskiej 1920 r. nr 3
00-973 Warszawa, Poland
E-mail: r.michalak@lu-warsaw.pl
ABSTRACT
In the article the specific use of methods by the investigation of wood density were
analyzed in the context of their importance for forest and wood technology branches as well as
for carbon inventory and monitoring in the Ukraine. The influence of site factors on wood
density and wood moisture of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Ukrainian Carpathians was
investigated. According to the research results the environmental influence on wood tissues of
European beech has a significant effect on the technical value of timber. Wood density and
moisture content are two variables that are strongly correlated with forest site types or altitude.

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INTRODUCTION
The performance of wood as a raw material is characterized by different properties,
which were formed by the natural conditions in growing trees. Wood density, which varies with
tree species, growth conditions, biotope etc., - forms an integral component of tree breeding
programs and the main characteristics of wood quality. Since the quality of wood is the result of
a long process where genetic dispositions of the tree interact with environmental requirements
(Kucera 1994), the tree growth rate affects not only the formation of wood but also its physical
properties (Poluboyarynov 1976; Senft et al. 1985; Keith 1988). By analyses of wood properties,
little is known about how the site types influence the wood density of the main industrial wood
species in Ukraine (Vintoniv, Sopushynskyy 1996). There is also a within-tree variability (along
stem height as well as radius) which was firstly documented for European wood species by
Trendelenburg (1936) and has been extended to further species and forest regions in the course
of the time (Poluboyarynov 1976; Uholev 1982; Walker 1993). There is a close correlation
between the site indexes determined as richness and moisture content of soil and the density of
wood (Kollmann, Cote 1968; Krzysik 1978; Splawa-Neyman 1994; Ketterings, Coe, Noordwijk,
etc. 2001]. The prediction of wood density plays an important role to estimate an above-ground
tree biomass correctly.
The estimation of above-ground tree biomass is an essential aspect of studies of carbon
stocks, deforestations and carbon sequestration on the global carbon balance. A common method
for estimating carbon stocks in living biomass in forest land is the use of equations which relate
carbon stocks ( C ) to the biomass of individual trees, such as volume ( V , m3 ha 1 ), basic wood
density ( , kg m 3 ), biomass expansion factor for conversion of volume to above ground tree
biomass ( BEF2 ), root-shoot ratio ( R ) and carbon fraction of dry matter ( CF , C (kg d .m.) 1 ) (IPCC
2003):
(1)
C = [V BEF2 ] (1 + R ) CF ,
The majority of research on wood properties was done on mature trees at the age of 80
years and more. It is also important to study the wood properties of younger trees in view of their
present and future use. The wood, like many organic materials depend on environment and its
use as a construction material demands a precise knowledge of wood properties which are
mainly based on density.
The aim of this paper is to analyze the specific use of methods by the investigation of
wood density for forest and wood technology branches as well as for carbon inventory and
monitoring in the Ukraine and to study the influence of the growing conditions of the
southwestern megaslope of the Carpathians on moisture content and basic wood density of beech
(Fagus sylvatica L.).
METHODS
The relationship between the density at a given moisture content and the density of ovendry wood is of the great technical importance (Kollmann, Cote 1968; Poluboyarynov 1976;
Krzysik 1978). For most species the literature thus gives a range with low, medium and high
values. As one will note, there is no standardization of the moisture content of the (air dry, wet,
green) wood in the densities reported, and some conversions may be needed. A theoretically
correct solution is not difficult to achieve. The share of moisture content in green wood can be
expressed by the following equation:
m
+ mH O ,
green = o. d . w.
(1)
2

Vmax

where green - density of green wood, kg m 3 ; mo.d .w. - ovendry weight of the wood, kg ;
3
m H O - weight of the water, kg ; Vmax - the volume of the green wood ( W > 30% ), m .
Whereas in wood physics density is generally based on both weight and volume at the
same moisture content, in forest carbon inventory research, tree improvement programs etc. it is
more correct to determine the density as ovendry weight and volume at a specified moisture
content (Kollmann, Cote 1968; Walker 1993). By calculating the basic density (Eq. 2), the
2

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term basic emphasizes that both parameters measured, the ovendry mass and the green
(swollen) volume, have constant and reproducible values. Basic density determines the ratio of
the weight of the oven-dry wood ( m0 ) and the volume of green wood (Vgreen Vmax ).
b =

m0
Vgreen

(2)

The determination of the wood density at a given moisture content (e.g. 12 = m12 V12 )
according to the present industrial standard of Ukraine creates difficulties in forest research
(Standard () 16483.3-84. 1984; Poluboyarynov 1976). During the storage of logs in the
forest, their moisture content decreases, influenced by different factors, such as season of felling,
place and duration of storage and weather conditions. Hence as industry is more concerned with
the amount of woody tissues in a given volume of timber, air-dry wood density ( 12...15 ), (Eq. 3) is
often preferred.
12...15 =

m0 ,
V12...15

(3)

This figure may not only be determined easily, since the volume ( V12...15 ) is measurable by
the displacement of water without any error but it is also informative from the point of view of
forestry (Kollmann, Cote 1968; Poluboyarynov 1976) and plays an important role for carbon
inventory and monitoring. In practical application the density of green , 12...15 and b are important
with respect to shipping weight and calculation of round wood volume (Jnes 2001). Basic
density is a very important pulpwood parameter, influencing many aspects of the pulp and paper
industry including freight costs, chipping properties, pulp yield per unit mass of wood, paper
quality and measurement of carbon stock (Balodis 1980; IPCC 2003).
Since density is influenced by the moisture content of the wood, comparisons of density
figures can only be made at the same moisture content. As known, the wood density is
influenced by the site type and the age. The moisture content of wood depends on the biotope,
season, altitude and changes within the height and diameter of trees (Trendelenburg 1939;
Kollmann, Cote 1968; Poluboyarynov 1976; Krzysik 1978; Biley, Vintoniv 1983). The
estimation of green density is not reproducible and should therefore be avoided.
The correct determination of moisture content is therefore important. The moisture content
( Wabs ) is the mass of water ( mw m0 ) contained in the wood, expressed as a ratio to the mass of the
oven-dry wood ( m0 ) on a percentage basis and calculated as follows:
Wabs =

mw m0
100% ,
m0

(4)

The oven drying method was usually used to determine wood moisture content (Standard
() 16483.7-71 1978).
STUDY SITES
All data were collected in mixed forest stands in forest companies of Khust, Volovets and
Ust-Chorna which is located in western Ukraine in the region Zakarpatska in August and
September 1997 (Tab. 1). This study was conducted on 10 observation plots involving the steady
vertical distribution of beech wood at the following altitude: 250, 400, 550. 650, 750, 850, 900,
1000, 1100, 1250 m. The site types were determined by the forest typology of Herushynskyy
(1996) for Ukrainian Carpathians as richness of soil and soil moisture. Each observation plot
comprises a group of more than 100 beech trees. The square plot area was 0.25 ha. All growing
trees with a diameter at breast height of 7 cm or more located within these plots were numbered.
In each observation plot biometric features of all numbered trees were measured, that is breast
diameters (1.30 m above ground) and the height of trees proportionally to the number of trees in
adopted (2 cm) thickness classes. The obtained characteristics of thickness-height of trees
allowed, based on the dendrometric method (Standard () 16483.6-80. 1980), to define
three thickness classes with the maximum number of trees. According to the dimensions of
thickness classes it would be looked for the model trees and then they were cut down.

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Table 1. Forest and estimated features of observation plots of beech stands and model trees

*Fagus sylvatica L.- FAS; Carpinus betula L. CAB; Abies alba L. ABA; Picea abies Karst.
PIA; Acer pseudoplatanus L. ACP; Quercus robur L. QUR; Fraxinus excelsior L. FRE;
+ defined as >5%
** D2 - fresh broadleave (beech) forest; D3 - wet broadleave (beech) forest; C3 - wet mixed
broadleave (beech) forest.
29 trees contributed to the determination of basic density and moisture content of beech
wood. Sampling trees was achieved by using the destructive (discs) method. The measurements
of variables were done at breast height, 1/3 of length of bole and 1 m before the beginning of tree
crown to represent the whole tree (Fig 1).

Fig. 1 Schematic illustration of the sampling procedure - cutting of discs

The discs were cut into three segments: juvenile wood where heart-wood formation may
be initiated, year rings 5-20 from the pith, transition wood, containing approximately 10-40 year
rings, and mature wood, year rings 20-60 from the bark. The green volume of the segments was
measured by water displacement method. With the oven drying method the oven-dry mass was
measured after 24 h at 103 2oC. The initial weighing of each sample was made as quickly as
possible after it had been cut to the nearest 0.001g on a precision balance (Standard ()
16483.3-84. 1984; Standard () 16483.7-71.). Errors, due to unavoidable delay before
weighing, were minimised by placing the sample in polythene bags immediately after cutting.
The following variables were included in the statistical analyses: wood basic density
(kilograms per cubic metre), wood moisture content (percent) and altitude (meter) for every
observation plot. The statistical analyses was based on procedure SPSS 8.0 - One-Way ANOVA
(Analysis of Variance Analysis of Variance) to produce a one-way analysis of variance for a
quantitative dependent variable by a single factor (independent) variable (Brosius 1998). For the
analysis of variance a t-test was applied which looks at the difference in means of a continuous
variable between two groups. Null hypothesis has no difference in the mean values and the
alternative hypothesis has a difference in the mean values (significant at <0.05).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Moisture content
The moisture content of "green", i.e. freshly cut wood varies within the diameter, the tree
height (Sachsse 1971). Statistical characteristics of wood moisture content of beech presented in
Table 2, there is a clear relation between altitude and moisture content of beech wood. The
differences in variability of mean values of the wood moisture content between 250 and 1250 m
above sea level were evident or significant (<0.05). According to the statistical analysis within

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the database of moisture content of ten site types, three categories of altitude were grouped
(Table 2).
Table 2. Statistical analysis of wood moisture content of beech
Altitude, m

Site type

N, units M m , %

under 600 m D2 -fresh broadleave (beech) forest

600-950 m

D3 -wet broadleave (beech) forest

above 950 m C3 -wet mixed broadleave (beech) forest

V ,%

P,%

109

76.80.33

4.5

0.4

116

80.80,37

5.0

0.5

129

75.70,28

4.2

0.4

The average wood moisture content appears to be the highest at an altitude of 600-950 m.
The research results show that the environment has a strong effect on wood moisture content of
European beech in Ukrainian Carpathians.
Wood density
According to the statistical analysis within the database of wood density of ten site types,
three categories of altitude were grouped. The wood at an altitude above 950 m is showing the
lowest density (503 kg m 3 ). Assuming the value obtained for wood at an altitude of 600-950 m
mature as 100 % and a comparison to values obtained for wood at the altitude above 950 and
under 600 m indicates clearly that those tissues have a lower density of 5.9 to 10.5 % (Tab. 3).
Table 3. Statistical analysis of basic wood density
Altitude, m
Site type
N, units M m , kg m 3 V ,% P,%
under 600 m D2 -fresh broadleave (beech) forest
600-950 m

D3 -wet broadleave (beech) forest

42

5294.0

5.1

0.8

66

5625.9

8.4

1.1

above 950 m C3 -wet mixed broadleave (beech) forest

6.6 1.1
5035.3
40
While the altitude was increasing to 950 m above sea level, the quality of forest site types
and basic density of beech wood increased accordingly. The density of the site types higher than
950 m above sea level was generally low, while the quality of forest site types decreased.
The variation of wood density is likely to be the major source of uncertainty. However,
calibrations by collecting density data for each site plays an important role and requires the
development of a method for estimating above-ground tree biomass by the use of equations
which relate the biomass of individual trees to an easily obtainable non-destructive measurement,
such as diameter, height and age. The results show that the altitude or forest site types appeared
to be a moderate to good predictor of the wood density.
CONCLUSIONS
The results show that the slope of mountain (sea level) is a natural laboratory to
investigate the wood properties which were formed by the different natural conditions in
growing trees. Wood density and moisture content are two variables that are strongly correlated
with the environment as well as forest site types or altitude. The environmental influence on
wood tissues of European beech has a significant effect on the technical value of timber,
characterized by wood density and moisture content. Wood density at the altitudes of 600-950 m
was higher than at altitudes under 600 m and above 950 m. The differences between these
variables were 5.9 % and 10.5 % respectively. The research results show that the values of basic
density vary between forest site types or altitude and support the following hypothesis for
forestry and forest carbon inventory:
-

the study of the air-dry wood density ( 12...15 = m0 ) is technically of greater importance
V12...15

than the wood density ( 12 = m12 V12 ) according to the present standard of Ukraine;
the development of a rapid method for estimating the basic density of standing trees is an
important task within the forest carbon inventory.

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