%0 Research article
%T Value of complete information on red heartwood formation in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
%A Knoke, Thomas
%D 2002
%J Silva Fennica
%V 36
%N 4
%R doi:10.14214/sf.525
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/525
%X Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is the most important deciduous tree species  in Germany. The wood of beech shows normally a bright colour (white  beech) as long as no coloured heartwood has been formed. The facultative  heartwood formation is induced when oxygen enters central parts of  older trees, where dead or at least less vital parenchyma exist. The  coloured heartwood is usually called ‘red heartwood’. Beech without red  heartwood can preferably be found in younger trees which show a high  water content even in central parts of the stem. The presence of red  heartwood is regarded as a severe reduction of timber quality. Numerous  studies have investigated opportunities to derive information on the  presence and characteristics of red heartwood of standing beech trees.  But until now it has not been tested whether such information could be  helpful to improve the economics of beech-silviculture. This paper  investigates whether complete information on the heartwood of standing  beech could be useful to control the proportion of discoloured timber  harvested during one rotation. It is also examined, which kind of  information on the heartwood could be used to improve the economic  results. To verify this, simulations  based on simple algorithms were  conducted. The general assumption was made that all information on the  heartwood would be available. The results show that information which is  restricted on the mere existence of red heartwood is neither suited to  significantly reduce the amount of coloured timber nor is it possible to  improve economic results based on this information. Only based on  information on the recent formation of red heartwood of beech, which is  actually still white the amount of discoloured timber can be reduced  significantly. Consequently the discounted cash flows can only be  substantially improved based on information on an expected formation of  recent red heartwood.