Do Tree Rings Reflect Wood Quality?
Evidence from Industrially and Sustainably-Managed Stands. Wood density is a good predictor of the economic value and strength of wood products. This study compares the fast growth rates of trees managed for industrial wood production with trees grown under more natural and sustainable conditions, through the measurement of two seasonal components of annual growth rings: earlywood and latewood. Though many factors dictate wood quality, the sustainably-managed forest exhibited significantly slower and more consistent growth rates, less juvenile wood, and a higher percentage of the more dense latewood, than the industrially-managed stand. Thus, while industrial forestry may produce more volume than sustainably-managed forestry, the wood is of lower quality.
