Relationship Between Altitude Index and Wood Properties of Pinus Eldarica Medw (Case Study in North of Iran)

In the present study, the biometry (tracheid length and tracheid cell wall thickness), physical (oven dry density, basic density, volumetric shrinkage, and volumetric swelling), and mechanical properties (static bending (MOR), and compressive strength parallel to the grain) of eldar pine (Pinus eldarica Medw) was investigated as a function of altitude index. For this purpose, eighteen normal pine trees from three altitudes such as 500 (low altitude), 1200 (intermediate altitude), and 1400 meter (high altitude) that located in the forestry of Western Mazandran province (in north of Iran) was selected. Disks and logs of wood were sawn from the trunk 1-2 m height of trees. The results of statistical analyses showed that the altitude index was an important factor influencing on the biometry, physical and mechanical properties of eldar pine. The wood density, volume shrinkage, volume swelling, tracheid length, cell wall thickness, modulus of rupture, and compressive parallel to the grain in intermediate altitude is more than other altitudes classes.