Anläggning av familjetest av sibiriska lärkarter

SIBLARCH was a Northern Periphery project 2004 – 2007. The main objective was to compare Siberian larch to Scots pine in forestry and wood products. The SIBLARCH web address iswww.siblarch.net .

Project Results

SIBLARCH has given many results of which some are clearly visible at present and others will generate results in the future. The network of people, institutions and enterprises supporting larch in forestry and products has grown. Larch timber has finally reached also big warehouses for building material supply.

• Another part of SIBLARCH is the results of the research. 17 scientific reports and a text book on Siberian larch have been produced in the project. A lot of information in these reports is scientific news. For instance that: The mechanical strength of larch timber is 25 % higher than common spruce or pine Red heart wood of Siberian larch can be classified as durable timber according to European Standard 113 and can be use as substitute for impregnated timber above ground.
• Wood density in Siberian larch is on average 25 – 30 % above that of Scots pine.
• Wood density of young fast growing larch (4 mm ring width) have higher wood density than old, slow growing, first quality Scots pine (0,5 mm ring with).
• Kiln drying process of larch timber need 2 – 3 longer times compared to Scots pine and a separate drying programme for larch timber.
• Productivity of Siberian larch is superior to common spruce or pine in northern Scandinavia on medium or better site qualities but inferior on poor sites.
• On high altitudes in Scandinavia the productivity of Siberian larch is higher than any other tree species.
• Direct seeding of larch is an applicable method for larch regeneration on medium moraine sites but cannot be recommended on fertile sites.
• Progenies of Siberian larch from North West Russia or south-central Ural can be recommended for use in northern Scandinavia.
• Progenies of Siberian larch from central or northern Siberia cannot be recommended for use in Scandinavia.
• Of all tested Siberian larch provenances the Far East provenances of Larix gemelini has the fastest juvenile height growth in south Scandinavia.
• Progenies of Siberian larch can easily be transferred from southern to northern latitudes without problems of adaption but transfer from north to south may result in bad adaption.
• Siberian larch of south Ural provenance can be recommended for use also in southern Sweden.
• Compared to hybrid larch, west Russian and south Ural provenances have better stem form and branch qualities.