Comparative study of chestnut wood quality (Castanea sativa Mill.)

This study investigated the quality of Chestnut wood that was produced during the first rotation, orchard and from imported wood. A total of 30 samples were used: 10 of them collected from the first rotation stands, 10 from orchards stands and the last 10 from wood imported from France (first rotation). There were no verifiable differences in the fiber length, extractives content and wood density; however, the results showed that the orchard wood held the worst quality (biggest longitudinal shrinkage, anisotropy, fiber saturation point and the lowest mechanical strength) and the first rotation wood the best. Orchards show a great development of juvenile wood, while first rotation produces mature wood.