Variations of wood basic density with tree age and social classes in the axial direction within Pinus massoniana stems in Southern China

International audience& Context Reliable estimates of wood density (WD) within individual trees could maximize the value of Pinus massoniana for specific end-use. & Aim We examined and quantified the axial patterns of WD in trees with different social status in the stands. & Methods Wood disks were sampled at the bottom, breast height, and middle of each 1-m sections from 108 stems, harvesting from three social classes in subtropical forests. A mixed-effects model was designed to quantify axial variation. & Results The WD at different height was significantly differ-ent from the whole-stem WD (WWD) except the relative height of 0.1. An overall decrease of 133.8 kg m −3 in WD was found from stem base to top. WD was significantly influenced by relative heights, tree age, and social class. WD of each relative height in mature trees was significantly higher than that of younger trees. Tree social class can affect WD development in the axial direction at age classes 2 and 3. Combining the fixed plus random effects, the final model explained 91 % of the observed variation in WD. & Conclusion The WD development patterns in the axial direction vary considerably among tree age, diameter at breast height, and social class. To distinguish and supply timber for specific end-uses, we should use the axial variation in disk WD (DWD) instead of WWD directly. The accurate predic-tions of WD provided by the model could be used to optimally classify logs into different product classes and maximize economic benefits. We can use DWD at the relative height of 0.1 instead of WWD of a single tree