Modelling variation in wood density within and among trees in stands of New Zealand-grown radiata pine

Background Density is an important wood property due to its correlation with other wood properties such as stiffness and pulp yield, as well as being central to the accounting of carbon sequestration in forests. It is influenced by site, silviculture, and genetics, and models that predict the variation in wood density within and among trees are required by forest managers so that they can develop strategies to achieve certain wood density targets. The aim of the study presented here was to develop a wood density model for radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) growing in New Zealand.