Vessel Area Studies In White Oak (<i>Quercus Alba</i> L.)

Authors

  • John E. Phelps
  • Edward C. Workman, Jr.

Keywords:

Growth-quality relationships, wood texture

Abstract

White oak wood has a light blond color and a ring-porous character that make it appealing to consumers. Color and texture are two very important wood quality parameters in such woods. This study was done to examine factors that influence variation in the percentage of earlywood, latewood, and total growth ring vessel lumen areas. Attributes studied were age (radial distance from the pith), longitudinal position (stump and 8 1/2 ft height) in the tree, and thinning effects. The percentage of earlywood vessel area was influenced by radial position in the trees, but was not influenced by growth ring width. The percentage of latewood vessel area was significantly and negatively influenced by growth ring width. Thinning had no effect on percentage of earlywood vessel area, but it reduced the percentage of latewood vessel area and total growth ring vessel area. By reducing total growth ring vessel area, thinning had a negative impact on texture in these trees.

References

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Published

2007-06-25

Issue

Number 3 / July 1994

Section

Research Contributions

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