Quality and properties of Spanish Laricio Pine (Pinus nigra Arn. Salzmannii)

Abstract

An extensive characterisation of Spanish laricio pine, Subsp. Salzmannii (Pinus nigra Arn. Subsp. Salzmannii) lumber has been carried out. The forest area for this species accounts for 352.954 Has and the average production for 310.000 m3/year (roundwood with bark). The study of technological characterisation of Pinus nigra Arn. Subsp. Salzmannii lumber is focussed only on three (Region 6 «Alto Maestrazgo», Region 7 «Sistema Ibérico Meridional» y Region 8 «Cordilleras Béticas») of the ten Regions of provenance that the species has in Spain due to the special interest of those forests and because they accounts for the 70,57 % of the total area and the 95 % of the total production of sawnwood. A test sample with 107 trees from 11 different sampling zones has been selected. 2886 boards, 500 disks and a very high number of small clear test samples, coming from 507 logs, has been prepared and tested. All the tests were carried out according to standards. Drying ability and quality have also been studied. This lumber seems to be highly resistant, with a high level of extractives and with a pronounced level of warp when drying. This lumber also seems to be very appropriated for structural purposes.