| Sugar maple usually develops a column of discolored wood at the center of the tree, but few studies have investigated whether external tree or landscape characteristics could be used to predict the size of this discoloration. I visited eight stands to investigate several theories that are commonly thought to be useful in predicting discoloration, but had not been empirically tested. They include bark type, aspect, soil cation levels, visible injury, and geographic regions of New York State. Bark type, aspect, soil cation levels, and visible injury were not predictive of discolored wood. Discoloration generally increased with tree diameter, which corresponds with another study, but less than 6% of the trees measured in this study would be reduced in grade following harvest due to discoloration. These data indicate no simple predictor of sugar maple discoloration, but the occurrence of discoloration does not significantly reduce the overall value of sawlogs.;Key Words: sugar maple, dark heart, wood discoloration, tree injury... |
