%0 Research article
%T Effect of regeneration method on growth, wood density and fibre properties of downy birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.)
%A Luostarinen, Katri
%A Huotari, Noora
%A Tillman-Sutela, Eila
%D 2009
%J Silva Fennica
%V 43
%N 3
%R doi:10.14214/sf.191
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/191
%X Short rotation tree stands, established by coppicing, are nowadays used  mainly for energy purposes in Fennoscandia, but their usage for pulp raw  material may increase in the future. Downy birch (Betula pubescens),  which is commonly used for pulp production in boreal zone, has good  sprouting capacity. However, it is not known if the fibre properties of  sprout-originated downy birches differ from those of seed-originated  ones. Therefore, fibre length and width of sprout- and seed-originated  downy birches grown on fertile soil were measured at a stand age of 25  years. Additionally annual ring width, stem height and diameter, and  wood density were studied to compare the growth and wood properties of  sprout- and seed-originated birches. Annual rings were slightly wider in  sprout- than in seed-originated birches, whereas no differences were  observed in wood density. Fibres, too, were slightly longer and wider in  sprout- than in seed-originated trees. Still these minor differences  observed here are hardly significant for the industries using birch  wood. Consequently downy birch wood from coppiced stands is well suited  for pulp. The advantages of coppice, i.e. rapidity and low costs of  establishment, productivity, and the ability of downy birch to grow on  untypical forest sites, may even increase the importance of the wood  coming from coppiced birch stands in the future.