Browsing by Subject "mänty"

Soil respiration is a process in which soil organic carbon is released in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. In boreal forests, soil carbon storage is particularly high relative to the carbon storage of aboveground biomass. Due to the large size of the forest areas of the biome, boreal forests’ soil organic carbon storage is globally is significant. The cool climate drives the formation of soil carbon storage in boreal regions. With climate change, the growing conditions can become drier and warmer than they have been in the past, which can accelerate the carbon release from soil to the atmosphere, thereby further warming the climate. Soil respiration is divided into two distinct processes: heterotrophic respiration where carbon dioxide is released from decomposi-tion of dead organic matter, and autotrophic cellular respiration of plant roots and root associated fungi. Increase in heterotrophic respiration in relation to litter formation rate implies a decrease in the carbon stock of the soil, whereas increase in autotrophic respiration implies an acceleration in the activity of the photosynthesizing biomass and, at the same time, an increase in the amount of carbon stored in the root system. The effect of drought on the activity of both components has been studied extensive-ly, and it appears that autotrophic terrestrial respiration responds to drought more slowly and less strongly in the boreal forest ecosystem. Atmospheric carbon dioxide contains two stable carbon isotopes, carbon-12 and carbon-13, of which C3 plants prefer lighter carbon-12 in photosynthesis. The relationship between these carbon isotopes is expressed with δ13C-value, and the discrimina-tion of carbon-13 in photosynthesis reflected in the cellular respiration of the autotrophic organisms. As a result, the δ13C-value of autotrophic respiration has been found to be lower than the δ13C value of heterotrophic respiration, as carbon-13 is discriminated less in the heterotrophic respiration. However, it has been found that during a drought period there is less discrimination of car-bon-13 in plants’ carbon assimilation, as the photosynthesizing plant may not be as selective for the carbon as when it is not exposed to drought. Thus, there is a difference in the δ13C-value of the soil respiration components, but it becomes smaller as the components experience drought. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the respiration rate of the components vary in different ways as they experi-ence drought by examining whether autotrophic respiration decreases more slowly than heterotrophic. In addition, it was sought to determine whether the components could be distinguished by their δ13C-value, so the study examined the development of the components’ δ13C-valu during drought. The measurements were done in two different experiment sites. The first one was an artificial drought experiment with pine saplings (Pinus sylvestris) in a greenhouse, where carbon dioxide flux and its δ13C-flux was measured from pine roots and their soil by incubation method. Second one was in a Pirkanmaa pine forest where carbon dioxide flux and its δ13C-flux were measured with incubation method and chamber measuring method. After the sampling, the development of the phenomenon was examined together with moisture- and temperature conditions at the time of the measure-ment. In this study, soil respiration’s autotrophic component changed more slowly in relation to drought than the heterotrophic compo-nent. In addition, in the pine forest, the δ13C-value of autotrophic respiration was below the heterotrophic δ13C-value, as the theory suggests. However, there was no clear development in relation to drought with the components’ δ13C-value. In the green-house experiment, no clearly distinguishable development was observed between the development of the components, and the δ13C-value of soil respiration was rather similar between the components. In both experiment sites, there appeared to be sources of error as environmental conditions improved unexpectedly in both the greenhouse and in the forest. Furthermore, it can be stated that the less destructive chamber measuring protocol seems to produce more reliable data.

The underlying bedrock is known to have effects on metal contents in soil and water, and thereby onto the major and trace nutrient balances in plants. Heavy metal contents in different rock types are highly variable and changes in the composition of the bedrock can happen over small distances. In Finland, the locally relatively abundant black shales in the eastern part of the country contain elevated amounts of several heavy metals, while the generally more common felsic rock types are in comparison depleted in them. The influence of elemental contents in bedrock on metal distribution in nature can be assessed through comparing metal amounts in various kinds of environmental samples, which at the same time enables identification of areas of potential environmental concern. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of bedrock on heavy metal contents in peat, ditch water, and needle samples between areas underlain by felsic or black shale bedrock in nine peatland catchments in Kainuu in eastern Finland. In addition to comparing differences in elemental contents, effort is put into evaluating strengths of correlations between metal concentrations and ash contents in peat samples and to assess which metals have a tendency of occurring together in peat. For ditch water samples, correlations will be evaluated between concentrations of metals and of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and of amounts of precipitation. In addition to influences of bedrock, other possible reasons behind differences in heavy metal amounts between areas will be looked at. Comparisons with data from other publications will in places also be made. The study is based on material collected by the Natural Resources Institute Finland in the years 2008–2015, which here includes 70 peat, 634 ditch water, and 80 needle samples. All samples were collected in nine separate forestry drained peatland catchments. Five of the catchments were located on areas underlain by felsic bedrock and four by black shales. The peat samples examined in this study range from the surface of the peat layers to 40 cm depth. The ditch water samples were collected from outlet ditches from all nine peatland catchments and needle samples were taken in eight catchments from either Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) or Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst). Half of the samples were of current year’s and half of previous year’s needles. Laboratory analyses of peat samples included measurements of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, U, and Zn concentrations by either ICP-MS or ICP-AES -methods and of ash contents through loss-on-ignition (LOI). Ditch water samples were analysed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations with the ICP-AES method, for DOC concentrations by TOC-V CPH/CPN analysis and for sulphate (SO4-S) by ion chromatography. Tree needles were measured for contents of Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Zn with ICP-AES. Statistical differences in metal amounts in samples by bedrock were tested with the Mann–Whitney U test and correlations using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient or the Pearson correlation coefficient. Metal concentrations in peat samples were for some tests recalculated to take into account ash contents using a linear general model. Metal stocks in peat layers (mg/m2) were also calculated for the sampling sites. As the main results, the ash corrected metal concentrations in peat were statistically significantly higher in samples collected on black shale as opposed to felsic bedrock in terms of As, Cd, Co, Mn, Ni, and Zn, while metal stocks in peat were significantly different in terms of Ni. In ditch water, samples from black shale areas had significantly higher concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn, and in tree needle samples similar significances were observed for Ni. The only cases were samples from felsic areas had significantly higher concentrations than those form black shale areas were the ash corrected concentrations of U and Cu concentrations in needle samples. Regardless of the underlying bedrock, large variations in metal amounts in all sample types were observed between catchment areas. Correlations between metal concentrations and ash contents in peat were generally relatively strong. Correlations between metals in peat were variable, and often stronger in samples collected in felsic areas. In water samples, correlations between metal and DOC concentrations were variable both between metals and catchments. The correlations between precipitation and metal concentrations in ditch water were generally weak. Overall, the composition of the bedrock was noticed to have some effects on metal concentrations in all sample types. But it was evident by the results that there are also other factors controlling metal amounts between catchments.

Suomen puuntuotannon metsämaasta noin neljännes on turvemailla sijaitsevia suometsiä. 1960- ja 1970-lukujen laajan ojitustoiminnan aikaansaaman puuston kasvunlisäyksen seurauksena ojitetut suometsät alkavat enenevässä määrin olla 2020-luvulla puustoltaan metsätaloudellisesti uudistuskypsiä. Suomalaisessa tasaikäismetsätaloudessa uudistuskypsien metsien osalta yleisesti hyödynnettyjen toimenpiteiden, kuten avohakkuiden, maanmuokkausten ja kunnostusojitusten on kuitenkin todettu aiheuttavan negatiivia ilmasto- ja vesistövaikutuksia turvemailla. Turvemaiden metsätaloudellisen käytön yhteiskunnallisen hyväksyttävyyden varmistamiseksi tarve vaihtoehtoisten metsänkasvatusmenetelmien aktiiviselle tutkimus- ja kehitystyölle on korostunut viime aikoina. Kaistalehakkuumenetelmää on osittain kaavailtu mäntyvaltaisille rämekohteille avohakkuun korvaajaksi. Kaistalehakkuumenetelmällä tarkoitetaan hakkuumenetelmää, jossa hakkuukohteelle sijoitetaan kaistaleita, jotka hakataan aukeaksi ja vastaavasti väliin jätetään puustoisia kaistaleita kasvamaan ja siementämään avoimeksi hakattuja alueita. Turvemailla kaistalehakkuumenetelmä mahdollistaa vähäisemmän turpeen vedenpinnan tason nousun kuin koko kohteen kattavassa avohakkuussa ja tästä syystä menetelmän ilmasto- ja vesistövaikutusten on ennakoitu olevan maltillisempia kuin avohakkuussa. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoite oli tuottaa tietoa turvemaalla toteutettavan kaistalehakkuun korjuuteknisestä toteutuksesta. Tutkimuksessa selvitettiin mäntyvaltaisilla rämekohteilla kaistaleen leveyden vaikutusta hakkuutyön tuottavuuteen sekä tarkasteltiin kaistalehakkuun seurauksena syntyvien puustovaurioiden määrää hakkuukaistaleiden viereen jäävillä puustokaistaleilla. Hakkuutyön ajanmenekki- ja tuottavuustasoerojen selvittämiseksi kaistalehakkuumenetelmää tarkasteltiin kolmella eri kaistaleen leveydellä, jotka olivat 10 m, 20 m ja 30 m. 10 ja 20 metriä leveät kaistaleet hakattiin yhdeltä uralta ja 30 metriä leveä kaistale kahdelta 15 metriä leveältä käsittelykaistaleelta. Tutkimusaineisto kerättiin loka- ja marraskuussa 2020 kahdelta rämekohteelta hyödyntäen videointityökaluja ja hakkuukonedataa. Kaistalehakkuuta tarkasteltiin kolmen kokeneen hakkuukoneenkuljettajan työskentelyn perusteella. Aikatutkimusaineiston koko oli yhteensä 3562 runkoa ja yli 30 tuntia videoitua kaistalehakkuutyöskentelyä. Kaistalehakkuun ajanmenekkiä tarkasteltiin työvaihekohtaisen kelloaikatutkimuksen periaatteita hyödyntäen. Tulosten perusteella käsittelyleveydellä ei ollut suurta vaikutusta hakkuutyön ajanmenekkiin ja tuottavuustasoon. 15 metriä leveällä käsittelykaistaleella hakkuutyön tehotuntituottavuuden todettiin olevan 1 % suurempi kuin 20 metriä leveällä kaistaleella ja 3 % suurempi kuin 10 metriä leveällä kaistaleella käsiteltävän rungon koon ollessa sama. Yksittäisistä työvaiheista siirtyminen ja hakkuulaitteen vienti kaadettavalle rungolle olivat työvaiheita, joiden ajanmenekki selkeimmin erosi käsittelyleveyksien välillä. Kaistalehakkuun keskimääräinen tehotuntituottavuus oli eri käsittelyleveyksillä 39,8–41,0 m³/h käsiteltävän rungon koon ollessa 365 dm³. Tulosten perusteella puustovaurioiden määrä oli vähäinen kaistalehakkuussa. Kaistalehakkuun seurauksena vaurioituneiksi todettiin vain 2,6 % kuuden metrin etäisyydellä hakkuukaistaleen reunasta sijainneista vieruspuista. Puustovauriokoealoilta lasketun runkoluvun perusteella tämä on noin 12 vaurioitunutta runkoa hehtaarilla. Tämän tutkimuksen tulosten perusteella kaistalehakkuumenetelmä on hakkuutyön tuottavuustason ja vähäisen puustovaurioriskin perusteella erittäin varteenotettava menetelmä mäntyvaltaisilla rämekohteilla. Turvemaalla toteutettavan kaistalehakkuun osalta aikaisempia tutkimuksia on todella vähän ja siihen tietotarpeeseen tämä tutkimus tuo lisäystä. Kaistalehakkuumenetelmä tulee mitä todennäköisimmin yleistymään tulevaisuudessa ojitettujen suometsien hakkuumenetelmänä, varsinkin jos sitä hyödyntämällä suometsien käytön negatiivisia ilmasto- ja vesistövaikutuksia saadaan vähennettyä.

The goal of this study was to estimate the success of natural regeneration of Scots pine, on unscarified strip cut areas on forestry-drained dwarf shrub peatland sites, as to find the explanatory factors affecting regeneration. The sites were in Southern Finland and the seedling inventory was conducted 3–4 growing seasons after the cutting. On two sites the seedling densities were satisfactory (3000–6300 ha-1) but the spatial distribution was uneven, as the share of empty plots was 41–57 %. On the remaining two sites the regeneration had either failed or was unsatisfactory, with seedling densi-ties 600–1000 ha-1. The most important variables explaining seedling density were the soil scarification-effect of the logging trails and the water table level. The seedling density on the logging trails was 3–21 fold, depending on the site, compared to surfaces outside the trails. The small spots of bare peat were remarkably well-stocked. The explanatory value of variables for the water table level were weakened by the limited number of dipwells. However, it seems the development of seedlings on a clear-cut strip would require an average water table level deeper than 30 cm from the ground level, during growing sea-son. Of the vegetation groups, dwarf shrubs clearly had a negative impact on seedling density. In relation to the cover per-centage of the forest floor, bog mosses hosted more seedlings than upland mosses. The abundance of cotton grass raised seedling density and the longest seedlings grew in the vicinity of cotton grass. The reason was assumed to be the early colonization of the logging trails by both species. A thicker humus layer lowered the seedling density. Among other variables growing season temperature seemed to explain seedling emergence better than seed years. In addition to Scots pine seedlings, regression models are also presented for seedlings of broad leaves and conifer germinants. Common denominators for the occurrence of different groups of seedlings were the positive effect of log-ging trails and bare peat and the negative effect of dwarf shrub cover. According to the results some level of soil prepa-ration seems necessary to achieve a satisfactory level of natural regeneration. The thesis also proposes a forecast model for the occurrence of Scots pine seedlings, which is derived from the rela-tionship between the features of the uncut stand and the seedling densities of the clear-cut strips. According to the forecast model of the average water table level, the water table level preceding a strip cut should be at least -42 cm and preferably deeper, as a prerequisite for strip cutting. The sphagnum moss model states that sphagnum mosses should not cover far more than 5 percent of the forest floor. A higher water table level or a wider sphagnum cover on uncut strips, predicts a water table level too high for the development of Scots pine seedlings on clear-cut strips.

In forest inventories, more and more detailed information about the constantly growing stock is intended to obtain both at national and at private forests level. At present, in forest planning the features describing wood quality are rarely estimated from standing trees since there are limited resources for the precise measurements of the trees due to high expenses. The principal aim of this study was to determine the precision whereby the externally reviewed predictive features of the internal quality of a log-size pine wood can be estimated manually using Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS). The examined features were tree height, diameter at breast height, upper diameter as well as the heights of the lowest dead and living branch. The second main objective was to determine the precision whereby the tree class can be predicted based on measured and derived tree attributes. The derived attributes were the volume of the wood, crown ratio, the relation of dead branched and branch free part of the tree to the tree height, and form factor. For forecasting the nearest neighbor method was used where the search for the nearest neighbors was performed using the Random Forest -method. The relative accuracy (RMSE %) of TLS data in relation to the reference field data was found to be 7.54% (bias -6.16%) for the tree height, 6.39% ( -2.46%) for the breast height diameter, 10.01% (0.40%) for the upper diameter, 9.21% ( -5.99%) for the height of the lowest living branch and 34.95% ( -1.47%) for the height of the lowest dead branch. On the prediction of the tree class indicating the stem quality, the TLS data reached 78 % classification accuracy (5 tree classes). With harsher three tree class categorization 87% classification accuracy was reached. Based on the results can be said that quality factors, such as the lowest branches can be measured from the TLS data with reasonably adequate accuracy. Also the prediction of the tree class turns out decently (5 classes) and with harsher categorization (3 classes) well. The forecasting method described in this study can still be improved for example by the automatic interpretation of the laser scanning data, as well as combining several laser scanning points from the examined target. The most potential near future application is that TLS data can work as reference for airborne laser scanning because for this purpose the harsher categorization accuracy seems to be already very promising.

Männyn laatuun vaikuttavista tekijöistä tässä tutkimuksessa selvitettiin, mitkä tekijät aiheuttavat nuorissa männyissä oksikkuutta, mutkaisuutta käsittäen myös lenkouden ja haaraisuutta. Jokaiselle laatuvialle laadittiin kolme eritasoista mallia. Eniten keskityttiin tutkimaan oksikkuutta aiheuttavia tekijöitä, koska oksikkuus vaikuttaa männyn sisäiseen oksaisuuteen, joka on yleisin sahatavarakappaleen laatuluokan määräävä ominaisuus. Lisäksi mutkaisuus ja erityisesti haaraisuus osoittautuivat melko sattumanvaraisesti esiintyviksi laatuvioiksi, minkä takia niiden kehittymiseen vaikuttavia tekijöitä on vaikea määritellä. Tutkimuksessa käytettiin Metsäntutkimuslaitoksen taimikoiden inventointikokeiden (TINKA-kokeet) aineiston ensimmäisen ja kolmannen mittauskerran tuloksia. Näiden mittauskertojen väli oli 15 vuotta. Tutkimuksen perustuminen useampaan kuin yhteen mittauskertaan erottaa tämän tutkimuksen monista muista mäntyjen laatua käsittelevistä tutkimuksista, jotka ovat perustuneet yhden mittauskerran poikkileikkausaineistoon. Laadittujen kolmen eritasoisen mallin perusteella voidaan todeta, että oksikkuuden ja mutkaisuuden kehittymistä mäntyihin pystytään arvioimaan kohtalaisesti jo metsikön perustietojen (syntytapa, kasvupaikka, lämpösumma) avulla, jotka metsänomistajalla on tiedossaan jo taimikkoa perustaessaan. Puutason mittauksilla pystytään selvästi tarkentamaan arviota siitä, tuleeko männystä oksikas vai ei. Sitä vastoin puutason mittaukset parantavat vain vähän arviota mutkaisuuden kehittymisestä. Haaraisuuden esiintymistä luotettavasti ennustavaa mallia ei pystytty tekemään. Oksikkuutta lisääviä tekijöitä mallien mukaan olivat mm. männyn suuri läpimitan kasvu, suuri suhteellinen pituus saman metsikön muihin puihin verrattuna, alhainen kasvatustiheys männyntaimikon alkukehitysvaiheessa ja taimikonhoidon tekemättä jättäminen. Mutkaisuutta lisääviä tekijöitä olivat mm. suuri lämpösumma eli männikön sijainti Etelä-Suomessa, männyn suuri läpimitan kasvu, pieni suhteellinen pituus, alhainen kasvatustiheys männyntaimikon alkukehitysvaiheessa ja taimikonhoidon tekemättä jättäminen. Eri uudistamistavoista kylvö osoittautui parhaimmaksi laadun kannalta sekä oksikkuutta että mutkaisuutta tarkasteltaessa. Haaraisuutta lisääviä tekijöitä olivat mm. pieni lämpösumma eli männikön sijainti Pohjois-Suomessa, männyn suuri läpimitan kasvu ja alhainen kasvatustiheys männyntaimikon alkukehitysvaiheessa.

In consequence of transpiration vast amounts of water moves from tree roots to the atmosphere via stem and leaves. Water does not only move directly from roots towards canopy. It is essential element in the maintenance of cells and fuel to solute transport in phloem. Movement of water inside the tree is caused by differences in water potential between cells and tissues. Water moves towards lower pressure potential in the xylem. Pressure is the main component of water potential in the xylem. Phloem transport is also driven by hydrostatic pressure gradient. Water moves from xylem to the phloem when the water potential is lower in the phloem than xylem. Osmotic potential is the main component of phloem water potential. Osmotic potential, practically the osmotic strength, of a cell is related to the soluble sugar and water content in the phloem. Therefore, the main components of tree water potential are pressure and the osmotic strength of a cell. Phloem is the transport pathway of sugars and other important compounds many which role is yet unknown. The dynamics of water and sugar transport is still an enigma for researchers. Understanding of water and sugar transport is vital because they appear to affect other physiological functions in trees, i.e. the function of stomata and cell growth. The research of phloem is very challenging because phloem content is easily contaminated when collected. Phloem cells have several defend reaction when disturbed. Some methods are in use in phloem research but these methods can only be used in laboratory conditions or with specific tree species. Especially few research is been carried out in situ due to its damaging effect when collecting phloem samples. Promising method to assess phloem transport is to utilize diameter measurements. Modeling of phloem transport with xylem diameter data does not disturb the function of phloem. Essential missing piece of information is quantitative data of osmotic strength in the phloem. The topic of this thesis is to examine the diurnal changes of the main components of tree water potential. Emphasis is on examining the osmotic strength of phloem and the testing of new method for studying osmotic strength of phloem. The measurements are mainly carried out with scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and test evaluations are carried out with pillar black alder (Alnus glutinosa F. pyramidalis). The measurements are made with phloem pieces collected from different heights of the tree examined and with leaves from the canopy. Also the leaf water potential is measured which is related to diameter changes of the xylem. The former are compared to the osmotic strength of phloem pieces and leaves. The method used in this thesis is apparently not used in literature. The difference with methods in the literature is the freezing and thawing of phloem pieces before sampling with sentrifuge. Method brings out similar results of phloem osmotic strength found in the literature. The values might be slighlty underestimated due to the method used. According to these results the water potential of phloem are closely related to the xylem water potential with scots pine. The strongest relation with the xylem is in the phloem beneath the canopy and weakest in the phloem collected in the base of a trunk. The phloem water potential of a branch was most difficult to intepret. The osmotic strength and water content of needles were strongly related to the needle water potential. The results support the idea of a strong interaction between phloem and xylem.

Pystynävertäjä on Suomessa yksi merkittävimpiä mäntyjen tuhohyönteisiä. Se syö männynversoja ontoiksi, minkä seurauksena nämä tippuvat maahan. Tästä aiheutuu puulle kasvutappioita ja metsänomistajalle tulonmenetyksiä. Pystynävertäjän ekologiaa on tutkittu paljon, mutta ei tiedetä, miten se vaikuttaa versojen fotosynteesiin ja haihtuvien orgaanisten yhdisteiden eli VOC-yhdisteiden emissioihin ennen versojen putoamista. Monissa muissa tutkimuksissa on havaittu herbivoreilla olevan vaikutusta isäntäkasviensa fotosynteesiin. Lisäksi herbivorian seurauksena isäntäkasvin VOC-emissiot ovat voineet muuttua laadultaan tai määrältään. Pystynävertäjän vaikutuksia versoihin tutkittiin kokeellisesti SMEAR II -asemalla Pirkanmaalla. Pystynävertäjän vaurioittamien ja kontrolliversojen fotosynteesiä mittattiin kahden männyn latvuksessa heinä–syyskuussa 2010. Mittaukset tehtiin kannettavalla fotosynteesimittauslaitteistolla. Samalla otettiin VOC-näytteitä neulasten emissioista adsorbenttiputkiin. Lisäksi toisesta koepuusta suljettiin pystynävertäjäja kontrolliverso raamikyvettiin, johon mahtui oksan kärkeä n. 20 cm. Raamikyvetin läpi kierrätetystä ilmasta kerättiin VOC-näytteitä SPME-kuituun ja siihen sitoutuneet yhdisteet analysoitiin enantiomeereittain. Pystynävertäjä- ja kontrolliversojen välillä ei ollut selvää eroa hiilen assimilaatiossa, transpiraatiossa, ilmarakokonduktanssissa, vedenkäytön tehokkuudessa tai fotokemiallisessa saannossa. Vain pahimmin vaurioituneissa versoissa vaurio vaikutti fotosynteesiin huomattavasti. Esimerkiksi fotokemiallinen saanto laski selvästi vasta, kun verso oli juuri katkeamaisillaan pystynävertäjän sisäänmenoreiän kohdalta. Neulaskyvettimittausten perusteella vaikuttaa siltä, että pystynävertäjä toisella koepuulla lisää monoterpeeniemissioita ja toisella vähentää niitä. Raamikyvettimittauksessa pystynävertäjä lisäsi (+)-enantiomeerin osuutta ?- ja ?-pineeni- sekä limoneeniemissioista, mutta emissioiden kokonaismäärä ei juuri eronnut kontrolliversosta. Pystynävertäjän vaikutukset versojen fotosynteesiin jäivät vähäisiksi, vaikka pystynävertäjä olikin tehnyt versoihin yhdestä neljään reikää ja niiden kohdalta poistanut suuren osan verson poikkileikkauspinta-alasta. Pystynävertäjän aiheuttamat kasvutappiot vaikuttavatkin olevan seurausta lähes yksinomaan versojen putoamisesta. Pystynävertäjä ei juuri vaikuttanut versosta haihtuvien yhdisteiden kokonaismäärään, mutta se muutti niiden keskinäisiä runsaussuhteita ja erityisesti enantiomeerien runsaussuhteita. Pystynävertäjien vaikutukset VOC-emissioihin näyttävät riippuvan suuresti kemotyypistä. Laajempien johtopäätösten tekeminen pystynävertäjän vaikutuksista männyn VOC-emissioihin vaatisi tutkimuksen toistamista suuremmalla koepuumäärällä.

Limited pre-information of wood raw material properties complicates customer-oriented production planning in sawmilling. The problem is especially concerning Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) because its quality varies significantly within single trees but also within different forests. In the modern cut-to-length method decision of crosscutting points has to be made with help of stem profile prediction, optimization calculations and external quality properties of wood material. In the tree length method that is minimally used in Finland bucking can be done in a terminal that makes it possible to study whole external profile of the stem before the bucking. However, in crosscutting that aims to producing of value added products it would be important to know the internal quality of stem. One method that provides information on internal quality of wood raw material is x-ray log scanning that is used for the quality sorting at sawmills. The purpose of this study was to find out whether it is possible to predict the internal quality of Scots pine stems with the help of some stem characteristics. Moreover, it was also examined whether it is possible to develop the quality bucking of Scots pine butt logs if bucking is supported by x-ray log scanning. The study material was collected from eight final felling stands. From each stand 30 Scots pine stems were chosen and marked and of these was measured diameter at breast height, dead branch height, live branch height and total height. All marked Scots pine stems were felled and bucked as stems whose length varied between 12 and 20 meters starting from the butt of stem. After that the marked study stems were scanned with x-ray system in order to study their internal properties. Individual quality border points were calculated for each of the stems based on the x-ray data. Dead branch height was the most correlated stem characteristic with quality border point. The relationship of the dead branch height and the quality border point was examined with logistic mixed model. A binary dependent variable was determined for each of the stems. Limit value between binary categories (0/1) was 37 decimetres height of quality border. The dead branch height that was classified into four classes was used as an explanatory variable. By using this method it was possible to predict the correct class for 71,6 % of the stems. A stand number that was used as a random effect variable in the model was not statistically significant. The butt logs bucking that was made at the terminal and the butt logs bucking that was proposed by the harvester drivers was compared to the simulated butt logs bucking that considered also the quality border point of a stem. The total volume of A-class logs increased in a bucking option that considered the quality border compared to two other examined bucking options. Average volume of the butt logs decreased as a main way for increasing the logs quality was shortening of their average length. The results indicate that it is possible to rather well predict the internal quality of Scots pine stems with dead branch height and when crosscutting of stems is supported with x-ray scanning system, it is possible to increase the quality of butt logs. In order to reduce uncertain elements it would be necessary to use larger study material in the future studies. In addition, it would be beneficial to pay more attention to the interpretation of x-ray scanning data.

The study describes the dead branch height of Scots Pines from sawing industry point of view. The regional means for dead branch heights are given in a table, while the lower quartile of dead branch height, the median tree and the upper quartile are given in Box Plots. The grouping regions consist of the existing 13 areas of the Finnish Forestry Centres. Two of these regions are divided into two, making the total number of areas to be reviewed 15. The research material consists of the data gained from the 9th National Forest Inventory of Finland (VMI9), carried out 1996-2003, and also in relation to the data from Southern Finland in the previous National Forest Inventory (VMI8). Over all, dead branch heights on the major regions differ from each other, but in these two inventories the highest means and medians of dead branch height are in different areas within the middle part of Southern Finland. In addition to the absolute dead branch height, the review also shows the relative dead branch height (the ratio of dead branch height to the height of the tree), in those previous areas and as well as in swampy areas, in mature and thinning stands, and in different forest site types with mineral soils. In the areas of most common forest site types (VT and MT et corresponding) the dead branch heights are approximately at the same level, but the relative heights are higher on more poor sites. The effect of the age, height and the diameter of the trees were reviewed, too. Regression lines were calculated for the relationship between the stem part with only dead branches and the height of the tree having different diameter. It was not possible to examine the effect of the regeneration or later treatment method on the dead branch height, because there was no data for them concerning saw log-sized trees. It was also decided not to examine the number of stems in those different groups and their distribution into saw logs, although this information would be possible to calculate out of the data.