Longitudinal variation in log properties of Pinus radiata in northern Tasmania: predicting log stiffness using resistance drilling

Geoffrey M Downes; Robert Musk; Kaine Arkley; Vilius Gendvilas; David Lee

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-9775173/v1

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Longitudinal variation in log properties of Pinus radiata in northern Tasmania: predicting log stiffness using resistance drilling

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Longitudinal variation in log properties of Pinus radiata in northern Tasmania: predicting log stiffness using resistance drilling

Geoffrey M Downes, Robert Musk, Kaine Arkley, Vilius Gendvilas and David Lee

Research Square, Vol.25 May 2026

Research Square Company

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9775173/v1

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Abstract

log stiffness

radiata pine

resistance drilling

wood variability

wood quality

• Within-stem and between stem variation in log stiffness in 591 logs of 2.5 meters in length were assessed from 65 Pinus radiata D.Don trees, sampled across 13 plots of 5 individual trees, representing 7 forests in northern Tasmania, Australia. • Average log stiffness was significantly affected by stand age, stocking and basal area. • Within stems, a consistent pattern of increasing then decreasing modulus of elasticity and acoustic resonance was observed with highest stiffness values between 5 and 15 metres above ground. The general pattern was consistent among sites with between site variance predominantly in the y-intercept value. • Resi-predicted basic density was significantly correlated with log modulus of elasticity (MOE), with the strength of the relationship varying markedly among sampling points based on position within the stem. • Multiple regression and random forest models, based on traits extracted from the Resi trace, were found to better account for variance in log MOE, compared to Resi-predicted basic density alone. Random forest models were able to explain 56% of the variation at the individual tree level; this improved to 88% at the site level.

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Title: Longitudinal variation in log properties of Pinus radiata in northern Tasmania: predicting log stiffness using resistance drilling
Authors: Geoffrey M Downes (Corresponding Author) - Forest Quality Pty Ltd
Robert Musk (Author) - Timberlands Pacific (Australia)
Kaine Arkley (Author) - Timberlands Pacific (Australia)
Vilius Gendvilas - University of the Sunshine Coast
David Lee (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Publication details: Research Square, Vol.25 May 2026
Publisher: Research Square Company 
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9775173/v1
ISSN: 2693-5015
Copyright note: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Data Availability: Data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Our intention is to deposit data at Github in a publicly accessible repo. Timberlands Pacific in Tasmania provided all field sampling and data collection. Forest Quality undertook the data analysis which involved calculation of metrics used in model development. These metrics are described in the manuscript.
Grants: Assessing and managing mid-rotation wood quality in Australian softwood plantations to produce fit-for-purpose logs., PNB548-2021, Forest and Wood Products (Australia) (Australia, Melbourne) - FWPA
Organisation Unit: Forest Industries Research Centre
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991252399802621
Output Type: Preprint

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