Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco wood basic density in the Patagonia Argentina

Abstract

In the Andean region of Patagonia, Argentina, in the provinces of Neuquén, Río Negro and Chubut, there are numerous Douglas Fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb) Franco] plantations, which constitute one of the timber species most widely used in the region for commercial plantations. In this work, we studied Douglas Fir wood basic density and its variation within trees and among trees. Also, the relationship between wood density, ring-with and the proportion of latewood was examined by regression analysis, determining at the some time wood density of juvenile and mature wood. We found that mean wood density of Douglas Fir was 0,366 g/cm3, which is one of the lowest wood density values reported for this species elsewhere. Results show that rings-width and latewood proportion were significantly related to specific gravity. We also found that Douglas fir trees begun to produce mature wood at around 17 years of age.