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Abstract

Rotfinder is a non-destructive decay-sensing apparatus based on resistance measurements in standing trees. The accuracy of Rotfinder in detecting decay was evaluated in 500 standing trees in three Norway spruce (Picea abies) plots. Trees were measured at three heights, 0.30, 0.66 and 1.30 m. Sections were later inspected for the presence of decay and reaction zones. Inspected trees were mostly infected by Heterobasidion annosum and showed a large variation in the amount of decay present, ranging from 0.1% to 88.0% of the section. Correctly and incorrectly classified trees were compared in terms of ion and element concentration, density and moisture. Measurements at stump level (0.30 m) were more accurate than measurements at breast height (1.30 m) where the reaction zone and decay columns showed lower moisture content. The accuracy of Rotfinder increased when trees with small decay columns were regarded as 'non-decayed'. When only trees with more than 15% of the section decayed were regarded as 'decayed', Rotfinder had an accuracy of 0.86 when performing assessments at stump level. False negatives, as opposed to true positives, corresponded to trees with smaller and drier decay columns, drier reaction zones and lower K(+) (potassium) concentration in the decay column. False positives corresponded to trees with large sapwood and high sodium content in the sapwood. Rotfinder represents an alternative to the standard method of using increment core observations to assess decay in living trees. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Heterobasidion annosum; Non-destructive method; Stem rot; Reaction zone

Published in

Forest Ecology and Management
2011, volume: 262, number: 8, pages: 1378-1386
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

SLU Authors

Associated SLU-program

SLU Future Forests

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2011.06.033

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/57491