Thickness Analysis of Beech Stems Using Annual Rings

This article deals with the evaluation of a thickness analysis on the vuts of beech wood using annual rings. The study was performed at the state enterprise Lesy SR, a branch plant in Smolenice on the territory of Forrest District Majdan. In order to perform a thickness analysis of the beech logs, it was necessary to know the number of annual rings on the butt end and the number of annual rings on the small end. Based on these two quantities, it was necessary to derive the number of annual rings in the middle of the trunk. All these characteristics were related to the length of the stem and the thickness of the stem. The data set contained 1000 logs. For a period of 3 years - i.e. from 2017 to 2019 in total for all types of intentional felling, starting with tending intentional felling up to 50 years, tendingt intentional felling over 50 years and ending with prescribed final felling, incidential felling was not included in the investigation. The aim of this publication was to determine the thickness characteristics of beech stem logs, which are characterized in the territory of branch Smolenice by a full-wood stem and to create input quantities for a model log of a beech stem. The results include the average width of annual rings depending on the length of the stem, the average number of annual rings per 1 meter of length, the average reduction in the number of annual rings depending on the length recalculated per 1 meter of length, the average height increment. The results showed interesting findings, the largest average width of annual rings was recorded in improvement intentional felling over 50 years, despite advanced age. Another interesting finding was the average height gain of 0.5 m. The average number of annual rings served to confirm the accuracy of the calculation of the stem thickness depending on the width of the annual ring. The average reduction in the number of annual rings showed the convergence of the stem in cm depending on the length of the cut.