Variability of wood density inside the trees and among individual trees of Snežnik area was researched. 19 fir trees uprooted by strong winds in autumn 2008 were investigated. Radial samples were sawn out from the discs of trunks, branches and roots, cut into 2059 irregularly shaped test samples, and dried at temperature of 103 °C. When absolutely dry, they were weighed with laboratory scales. Then the samples were impregnated with water in the impregnation chamber. Fully waterlogged samples were sunk into a measuring cylinder filled with water, then their volume was measured. The accuracy of these measurements was checked with Breuil's mercury volumenometer. It was ascertained that branch wood had the highest average density (595 kg/m3), followed by trunk wood with 394 kg/m3. Root wood had the lowest average density (365 kg/m3). The highest average basic density of trunk wood was 509 kg/m3, and the lowest 343 kg/m3, indicating high variability of wood density in this area.
|
