Latewood proportion inside growth rings by bald cypress stems in Serbia

Abstract

In the paper, there was analyzed participation of the latewood zone inside growth rings of bald cypress from two different locations in Serbia. Its proportion has been monitored depending on three factors growth rings width, age and stem height. Between growth rings width and latewood zone proportion was established negative correlation. For that reason, stems on Backa Palanka, whose growth rings are narrower, have greater latewood zone proportion compared to stems from Veliko ratno ostrvo, that have faster radial increment. Greater latewood proportion contributes to better mechanical and technical properties of the stems from Backa Palanka. As for relations between latewood proportion, from one side, and age and stem height, from the other side, there is also established negative correlation. Bearing on mind that bald cypress belongs to soft conifers, its latewood proportion almost never exceeds more than 1/3 of the whole growth rings width.