Larch (Larix) is a very important wooden resource for the whole Alpine chain. Nevertheless it is under-utilized with respect to its potential, especially in Piedmont, Italy, where it covers more than 50 000 ha. This is due to economic reasons (mainly to the high cost of harvesting in sloping conditions) and to the fact that the larch wood which comes from France and Eastern Alpine regions is considered to have better quality and higher performance. The aim of this study is the technological characterization of larch wood from a number of different locations (at the Regional level) with the goal of highlighting its value and promoting more widespread use. The origins of the material are 8 stands from as many Piedmont valleys. From each stand 5 trees were graded, selected and felled; from each tree 4 logs, 3 metres long, were drawn. After that, the logs were sawn in order to obtain the central planks, each 6 cm thick. From these small test pieces without defects were then obtained for determining the physical and mechanical properties of the wood according to the relevant ISO and EN International standards. The results highlight a substantial homogeneity of the main technological characteristics of the wood examined, which are very similar to those described in the literature for the Italian larch.
Technological characterisation of the wood of European larch from Piedmont (North-Western Italy)
BOETTO, Guido Alessandro;ZANUTTINI, Roberto;
2002-01-01
Abstract
Larch (Larix) is a very important wooden resource for the whole Alpine chain. Nevertheless it is under-utilized with respect to its potential, especially in Piedmont, Italy, where it covers more than 50 000 ha. This is due to economic reasons (mainly to the high cost of harvesting in sloping conditions) and to the fact that the larch wood which comes from France and Eastern Alpine regions is considered to have better quality and higher performance. The aim of this study is the technological characterization of larch wood from a number of different locations (at the Regional level) with the goal of highlighting its value and promoting more widespread use. The origins of the material are 8 stands from as many Piedmont valleys. From each stand 5 trees were graded, selected and felled; from each tree 4 logs, 3 metres long, were drawn. After that, the logs were sawn in order to obtain the central planks, each 6 cm thick. From these small test pieces without defects were then obtained for determining the physical and mechanical properties of the wood according to the relevant ISO and EN International standards. The results highlight a substantial homogeneity of the main technological characteristics of the wood examined, which are very similar to those described in the literature for the Italian larch.
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