Program Manager: Dr Chris
Harwood
Research in genetics, silviculture and wood quality assessment
was integrated in this program to increase the value and
profitability of eucalypt plantations.
Some CRC members were growing plantations solely for pulpwood,
and were primarily interested in improving volume production,
optimising wood density and pulp yield.
Other members developed plantations to serve solid and
engineered-wood markets, where different log and wood quality
criteria are important.
The
relationships between log and wood traits and performance in
processing systems (for example, sawing and drying performance) are
critical in defining and improving value.
Therefore, we conducted processing studies and liaised closely
with other processing research groups to better understand the wood
properties that drive value for different end uses.
Major program outputs included:
- tools and methods for quantitative and molecular breeding for
pulpwood and solid wood breeding objectives
- empirical models of growth and size class distribution in
silviculturally managed stands designed to link to the
process-based models of CRC Research Program One
- improved understanding of how the scheduling of pruning and
thinning affect log and wood traits, processing performance and
consequent value
- improved assessment methods for key wood traits at the
individual tree and stand levels
- decision-support systems that integrate information on
germplasm, site, silviculture and stand assessment to enable
plantation managers to maximise profitability for defined end
uses.
Program structure:
- Project 2.1 Breeding for high value wood products
- Project 2.2 Silviculture for high value solid and engineered
wood products
- Project 2.3 Impact of silviculture interventions on wood
quality into plantation estate management
- Project 2.4 Incorporating wood quality into plantation estate
management
- Project 2.5 High value wood products from subtropical
plantations
