| Summary: | <p>The effects of cultural intensity (operational and intensive) and planting densities (741, 1483, 2224, and 2965 ha<sup>-1</sup>) on modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR) and specific gravity (SG) of small clear samples obtained from 15 and 16 year-old loblolly pine (<I>Pinus taeda</I>) from the Lower Coastal Plain and Piedmont region of the southeastern United State were examined. Planting density and distance from pith showed a significant (<I>p </I>< 0.0001) and strong main effect on stiffness (MOE) and strength (MOR) for the samples. Regardless of planting density, MOE, MOR and SG of samples increased significantly from pith toward bark. A significant culture × density interaction (<I>p</I> < 0.0001) was observed for the samples obtained from the Lower Coastal Plain. </p>
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The project also determined the feasibility of measuring microfibril angle (MFA) on solid wood loblolly pine samples using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy with the angle analyzed using image analysis. Measurements of MFA revealed minor differences (5⁰) between juvenile wood and mature wood.
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