%0 Research article
%T Quality and yield of pulpwood in drained peatland forests: pulpwood properties of Scots pine in stands of first commercial thinnings
%A Varhimo, Antero
%A Kojola, Soili
%A Penttilä, Timo
%A Laiho, Raija
%D 2003
%J Silva Fennica
%V 37
%N 3
%R doi:10.14214/sf.494
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/494
%X The inherent structural dynamics of drained peatland forests may result  in a great variation in various wood and fiber properties. We examined  variation in fiber and pulp properties i) among stands, ii) among trees  within stands, and iii) within trees in young stands dominated by Scots  pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). The stands, selected to cover a maximal  range of the potential variation, were all at a stage of development  where the first commercial thinnings would be feasible. Differences in  the processability of the thinning removals were small. In similar kraft  cooking conditions, a 5-unit variation in the kappa number of  unbleached pulp was observed among the stands. Stand origin had no  effect on pulp bleaching. The wood formed prior to drainage had a higher  density, shorter fibers, was slightly slower delignified by cooking,  and its yield was slightly lower than that of post-drainage wood. These  properties, except for high density, are typical for juvenile wood in  general, and at stand level they did not correlate with the proportion  of pre-drainage wood. When the variation in fiber and pulp properties  was broken down into its components, most of it was derived from  tree-level in all the cases. On average, the fiber and pulp properties  did not differ from those observed for first-thinning pulpwood from  upland sites. Consequently, peatland-grown pulpwood may be mixed with  other pulpwood in industrial processes. It would probably be best suited  as the raw material for pulps with high bonding requirements, e.g. in  the top ply of multi-ply board grades or in some specialty grades.