Radial variation in selected wood properties of three cypress taxa

Background: New Zealand-grown cypresses are typically harvested at 35-40 years of age; however, shorter rotations have been proposed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of producing structural products from shorter rotations through examination of wood properties of younger cypress trees. A detailed examination of radial wood property trends was necessary, and the first ring-level models for three cypress taxa were developed because there were no predictive wood property models available. Methods: Radial trends in wood density, microfibril angle (MFA) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) were examined for 55 trees of three taxa (Cupressus lusitanica Mill, C. macrocarpa Gordon and Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (D. Don) Spach x Cupressus macrocarpa). The trees, planted in row-plots, were harvested at age 21 years at which time breast-height increment cores were extracted to determine wood properties. Rings 1 through 18 were examined in detail and used as the basis for developing mixed-effects ring-level models. Results: Taxon, cambial age, ring width and aspect were highly significant as explanatory variables in wood-density models. Trees with a northern aspect (the warmest side with most sunlight) had greater density than those at the south of the plot. Trees with a southern aspect (least sunlight) had significantly lower MOE, which was about 1-2 GPa below the average of 11-13 GPa at age 18 years. Aspect, however, was not significant in models for MFA. Microfibril angle of the cupressus hybrid declined from about 30 degrees at the pith to 13 degrees near the bark, whereas for Cupressus lusitanica, the range was about 36-16 degrees and about 31-16 degrees for Cupressus macrocarpa. Conclusions: The results of this study provide a basis for determining management strategies appropriate to structural timber production from cypress stands. Overall, forecasted ages for production of strength-grade timber were least for the cupressus hybrid. In an application of the models, products of 6 GPa could be obtained from the outer zones of trees of the hybrid from age 22 years and at older ages for the other taxa. Shorter rotations would, therefore, be feasible for the hybrid taxon.