The global demand for engineered wood construction materials has surged due to their environmental sustainability and earthquake resistance. Even though the fact that T & uuml;rkiye is located within one of the most seismically active regions on the planet, the utilisation of structural wood materials remains restricted. The objective of this study is to evaluate the present level of awareness regarding engineered wood construction materials among professionals in T & uuml;rkiye and to identify the key barriers hindering the development of this sector. A total of 126 participants, including engineers, architects, and academics, responded to a structured survey. The results, analysed via SPSS, indicate that while materials such as OSB and structural plywood are relatively well-known, products like PSL, NLT, and DLT remain largely unfamiliar. The most critical obstacle identified is the lack of awareness regarding product standards. It is recommended that, in view of these findings, policy recommendations and sectoral development strategies be proposed for the purpose of enhancing the adoption of engineered wood construction materials in T & uuml;rkiye.
Afforestation of agricultural land on mineral soils is a promising carbon farming measure in managed ecosystems for climate change mitigation; it remains an ongoing land-use change practice in Latvia, supported by both historical and current land management and climate policies. However, quantitative assessment of soil organic carbon (SOC) stock changes following afforestation, based either on repeated field measurements or modelling approaches evaluated against independent empirical data, remains limited for the hemiboreal vegetation region of Europe. The objective of this study was to quantify SOC stock changes following afforestation of agricultural mineral soils in Latvia using the Yasso20 model parameterised with nationally representative input data and evaluated against independent field measurements. The model predicted a rapid increase in SOC stocks during the first 20 years following afforestation, averaging 0.62 t C ha–1 year–1, followed by a substantially slower increase that persisted for at least the subsequent 180 years, averaging 0.041 t C ha–1 year–1. The predicted rapid SOC accumulation during the first 20 years following afforestation closely matched the mean measured SOC stock increase of 0.58 t C ha–1 year–1 in established forest stands, supporting the plausibility of the model results. The model indicated a tendency towards the highest and most consistent SOC stock increase potential in coniferous species, whilst aspen was also highly competitive due to its rapid growth, with field measurements likewise indicating higher SOC stocks in coniferous and aspen stands. Keywords: mineral soil; soil carbon stock changes; afforestation; Yasso20
Tree mechanical stability depends partly on the vertical distribution of aboveground biomass, commonly described by the absolute height of the aboveground centre of mass (Hmpi). While Hmpi is closely linked to tree size, the extent to which its relative form (rHmpi) is genetically controlled remains unclear. We evaluated genetic variation in both Hmpi and rHmpi in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) using a diallel progeny trial and two provenance trials in Latvia. Variance components and heritability were estimated. Hmpi had a strong positive relation with the total tree height (H) and moderate heritability (h2 = 0.44 ± 0.29), indicating a substantial influence of genetic differences in growth. In contrast, rHmpi was highly consistent across sites and genetic groups, exhibiting negligible heritability (h2 = 0.05 ± 0.49) and a weak relationship with tree size. These results indicate that relative biomass distribution is largely independent of genetic variation and is primarily shaped by environmental and stand-level conditions. Accordingly, limited potential for improving rHmpi through breeding in mid-rotation Scots pine is suggested; thus, silvicultural management is likely to be more effective in modifying vertical biomass allocation. Keywords: Scots pine; Pinus sylvestris; tree architecture; wind stability; heritability
This study aims to screen locally available forestry industry residues as reinforcing fillers for polylactic acid (PLA)-based composites processed via three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. The mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of 3D-printed PLA composites reinforced with wood flour (WF), kraft lignin (KL), birch inner bark flour (BF), and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were investigated. The materials were produced from blends containing 10 wt% of each additive. In addition, the effect of the coupling agent on WF-containing items was studied. As a special objective, biochar was studied as a natural black pigment for PLA-based composites. The PLA used in this research was an industrial-grade material adapted for 3D printing, which was found to be suitable for further modification if needed. According to the results, fillers can significantly improve composite stiffness while maintaining strength close to that of neat PLA. Additionally, the printability of the composites was like that of neat PLA, with no noticeable printing errors observed under microscopy.
Root rot monitoring in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands can signal potential risks for pine health in the coming decades. However, in Latvia, the current inventory data on root rot fungi, especially Heterobasidion annosum infection, in middle-aged Scots pine stands are limited. Therefore, this study assessed the presence of H. annosum across Latvia, in a total of 153 managed 40-60-year-old Scots pine stands. The pathogen was confirmed in 39% of all surveyed stands by observing its basidiomata and isolating it from wood samples. Occurrence of H. annosum was highly stochastic and was not related to forest type, stand age or geographical region (p > 0.05). These findings indicate a high rate of Heterobasidion root rot infection in Latvian middle-aged Scots pine stands and the need for targeted forest management strategies to limit the pathogen's effects.
