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Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

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An application of mixed-effects model to evaluate the effects of initial spacing on radial variation in wood density in Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi)

Journal of Wood Science volume 56, pages 7–14 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

The effects of initial tree spacing on wood density at breast height were examined for 22-year-old Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi). The experiment involved the use of three plots with different initial tree spacing densities (300, 500, and 1000 trees/ha). For five trees selected from each plot, the total tree height, diameter at breast height, height to the base of the live crown, and crown diameter were measured. Ring width and wood density for individual growth rings were determined by X-ray densitometry. A mixed-effects model was applied for fitting the radial variation in wood density in relation to initial spacing. Models having various mean and covariance structures were tested in devising an appropriate wood density model. The model, consisting of the mean structure with quadratic age effects and heterogeneous first-order autoregressive covariance, was able to describe the radial variation in wood density. Closer spacing of trees (1000 trees/ha) resulted in a faster increase in wood density from the pith outward than for more widely spaced trees, indicating that initial tree spacing may influence the age of transition from juvenile to mature wood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hokkaido Forest Products Research Institute, 1-10 Nishikagura, Asahikawa, 071-0198, Japan

    Takaaki Fujimoto

  2. Ashoro Research Forest, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Ashoro, 089-3705, Japan

    Shinya Koga

Authors
  1. Takaaki Fujimoto
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  2. Shinya Koga
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Correspondence to Takaaki Fujimoto.

Additional information

Part of this report was presented at the 59th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Matsumoto, March 2009

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Fujimoto, T., Koga, S. An application of mixed-effects model to evaluate the effects of initial spacing on radial variation in wood density in Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi). J Wood Sci 56, 7–14 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-009-1045-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-009-1045-1

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