PHYSICO-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS OF PINE JUVENILE WOOD AS A FUNCTION OF AGE AND PLANTING SPACING

ABSTRACT Pinus forests have been implanted in the South of Brazil since the 1960s in different spacing and harvested in shorter terms to increase wood yield. Reducing the rotation period and changing the spacing of forest plantations can influence the wood’s physical and mechanical properties, as they are younger trees that do not yet have a significant amount of mature wood in their composition. In this context, this research aimed to study the influence of three levels of planting spacing (3.0 × 2.0 m, 4.0 × 2.0 m, and 2.0 × 2.0 m) and two ages (13 and 15 years old) on growth characteristics and physical-mechanical properties of wood, as well as the relationship between them. Apparent density, latewood percentage, rings per inch, strength and stiffness in static bending as well as compression parallel to the grain, and shear strength were evaluated. The evaluated planting spacings did not cause statistically significant changes in the mechanical properties of juvenile Pinus taeda L. wood. The studied ages did not influence the wood’s apparent density. However, changing the cutting age from 13 to 15 years significantly increased the strength and stiffness of the wood. There was a statistically significant correlation between tree growth characteristics and strength, and stiffness in bending and parallel compression, around 0.500 R2, which suggests that this parameter can be used to assist in estimating those properties. The wood of Pinus taeda L used in this study can be classified as structural wood, class C20 for 13 years-old trees and classes C25 and C30 for 15 years-old trees, according to NBR 7190/97 requirements.