Short communication: Variation of deadwood density by decay class in Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco) stands in Italy

• Casagli, Alessandro ^[1] ; De Meo, Isabella ^[1] ; Alfano, Andrea ^[2] ; Becagli, Claudia ^[1] ; Orlandini, Alessandro ^[1] ; Paletto, Alessandro ^[2]
  1. [1] Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria (CREA), Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment. Via di Lanciola 12/A, 50125, Firenze, Italy
  2. [2] Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria (CREA), Research Centre for Forestry and Wood. Piazza Nicolini 6, 38123, Trento, Italy
• Localización: Forest systems, ISSN 2171-5068, ISSN-e 2171-9845, Vol. 31, Nº. 2, 2022
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Aim of the study: To estimate fresh and basic density values of Douglas fir deadwood for the five decay classes used in the National Forest Inventories (NFIs).

    Area of study: Rincine forest in Tuscany region (Italy).

    Material and methods: 140 samples of Douglas fir deadwood (28 for each decay class; 14 of which were collected in summer and 14 in winter) were collected and analysed in the laboratory. The samples were weighed fresh, then placed in the oven for 3 days at 60°C. Afterwards the samples were weighed dried. The laboratory data were used to estimate moisture content (%), fresh and basic density by decay class.

    Main results: The results showed that the trend of basal density decreased from 1st to 5th decay class (0.43 g cm-3, 0.39 g cm-3, 0.37 g cm-3, 0.29 g cm-3 and 0.20 g cm-3). An average basic density of 0.34 g cm-3 could be used in future studies concerning the estimation of C-stock in Douglas fir deadwood.

    Research highlights: The moisture content of all decay classes of lying deadwood is influenced by the season (winter vs. summer) and consistent with the local climate regime.