Abstract
The fractometer is a device that breaks a radial increment core along the fiber for the measurement of crushing strength, which is a direct wood quality indicator for structural lumber. In this study, the crushing strength of Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioides Hay) trees using the fractometer was investigated and the data were used to determine the position of demarcation between juvenile and mature wood. Segmented regression and variance component analysis were used to estimate the demarcation position. With increasing cambium age, the core wood improves the crushing strength in the outer wood area. Within-tree variations in wood properties were greater than between-tree variations. In this experiment, the position of demarcation between juvenile and mature wood occurred at an approximate distance of 10.8cm to 13.2cm from the pith at about 18–20 years of cambium age.
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Chiu, CM., Wang, SY., Lin, CJ. et al. Application of the fractometer for crushing strength: juvenile-mature wood demarcation in Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioids). J Wood Sci 52, 9–14 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-005-0723-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-005-0723-x