Comparative Assessment Of Some Physical And Mechanical Properties Of Wood Of Different Scots Pine Climatypes

For a more efficient and rational use in the production of Scots pine wood of various geographical origin, it is necessary to know its physical and mechanical properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the physical and mechanical properties of wood of 17 climatic ecotypes of Scots pine and to carry out a comparative analysis of the indicators obtained for the studied climatypes separately and when they are grouped into subspecies in accordance with the classification of L.F. Pravdin. The range of the geographical origin of the places of seed procurement is from 47 to 62° north latitude and from 22 to 85° east longitude. The modern density universal testing machine MTS INSIGHT 100 was used for research. As a result of the research, it was found that the density of wood in an absolutely dry state varies from 370 kg/m3 (Kursk climatype) to 524 kg/m3 (Volgograd climatype), and at 12% humidity – from 397 kg/m3 (Kursk climatype) to 550 kg/m3 (Volgograd climatype). The index of the strength of wood of the studied climatypes for compression along the fibres was from 32 MPa (Kursk climatype) to 54 MPa (Volgograd climatype), and for static bending – from 55 to 92 MPa for the Vologda and Ulyanovsk climatypes, respectively. Distribution of Scots pine climatypes into subspecies in accordance with the classification of L.F. Pravdin and the obtained data on the physical and mechanical properties of wood have a certain pattern. The maximum density of wood at 12% moisture is typical for the European Scots pine subspecies is 497±8 kg/m3 , the minimum value of this indicator for the Siberian Scots pine subspecies is 423±30 kg/m3 . An intermediate position is occupied by the subspecies of Lapland pine and Forest-steppe pine with values of 483±16 and 464±12 kg/m3 , respectively. The strength index of wood in the studied subspecies for compression along the fibres ranged from 47±1 MPa (European subspecies) to 33±4 MPa (Siberian subspecies), in the Lapland pine subspecies – 44±2 MPa and somewhat lower in the Forest-steppe pine subspecies – 42±2 MPa. The maximum value of the static bending strength of wood is typical for the European pine subspecies – 78±4 MPa, and the minimum – for the Siberian pine subspecies – 61±14 MPa. This indicator turned out to be equal in subspecies of forest-steppe and Lapland pine and amounted to 72±4 MPa. The practical value of the work lies in identifying the existing differences and variability among climatypes according to the studied physical and mechanical properties of wood and selecting the most promising of them for further breeding purposes