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Spruce (Picea Abies)

Spruce is our most common conifer, despite only finding its way into Sweden as recently as 3500 years ago. Right from the start, Spruce managed to cover the whole country. Today, Spruce will be found in most parts of Sweden, South of the coniferous forest boarder for growth.

Spruce trees flourish on high, fertile, damp soil and can manage low temperatures. However, Spruce is sensitive to dry conditions, air pollution and stem rot. Spruce is also fairly vulnerable to high winds because the root system spreads out close to the soil surface.

Spruce trees can reach heights of 51m and a circumference of 5m. The highest known spruce trees in Sweden right now are both 46m high and are situated in the county of Värmland. Spruce trees can reach an age of 400years, but in normal forestry they are harvested in South Sweden at around 70-80years of age; in North Sweden this increases to 130-150 years.

Pine (Pinus Sylvestris)

Pine found its way into the country while land-ice still covered great parts of Sweden. After Spruce, Pine is the most common conifer and can be found throughout the whole country. The most northern Pine trees will be found north of Karesuando. Pine flourishes on fertile, ‘moraine’ soil, but can cope with rocky and dry soil.

Pine trees have a deeper root system than Spruce trees and will therefore resist high winds and stormy weather better. Pines’ deep and very fine root system also means that it is living in symbiosis with several different funguses. Pine trees can reach 36-37m in height but normal average height 15-30m. The oldest Pine tree in Sweden was 654 years old and was found in Dala Carlia.

The highest quality sections cut from Pine are used for joinery, craftsmen’s work and veneer, while the normal saw-log production timber is used for furniture, window, doors and construction timber.

Cubic metre standing volume or Forest cubic metre (m3sk)

Is a measure of standing trees and refers to all stemwood above the stump (above the felling cut).

1% of the tree’s length is calculated as being below the felling cut. The measure is used when taking inventory and for taxation purposes, for example to get an idea of how much timber there is on a given acreage.

Cubic metre solid volume incl. bark (m3f pb)

This measure refers to the timber volume of cut and trimmed logs. With regard to timber it is most correct to calculate in cubic metres solid volume including bark because the bark has a high fuel value.

Cubic metre solid volume excl. bark (m3f ub)

Pulp wood is sold in cubic metres solid volume excluding bark. The solid volume measure refers to the volume of solid wood with the air content deducted.

Pulp wood is generally sold in 3-metre standard lengths (southern Sweden) or in varying lengths from 3 to 5.5 metres (northern Sweden).

Cubic metre by top measurement excl. bark (m3 to)

This is the measure used for saw timber. It is the diameter at the top, bark excluded, that forms a cylinder through the whole log. Measurement is made 1 cm from the top. The reason for this is that the sawmill wants to get the maximum quantity of straight-edged planks from the round log, generally two from the centre (the centre yield) and perhaps one or two sideboards. In timber pricelists, the price is given by cubic metre by top measurement excluding bark.

The rest of the timber, the part below the top cylinder, is made into chips that are sold to the pulp industry or burnt.

Cubic metre loose volume (m3 s)

Chips are measured in cubic metres loose volume. Nowadays, the chips are often weighed and the dry substance content is calculated by taking samples. Chip carriers calculate in cubic metres loose volume when they load their vehicles.

A fully loaded chips truck and trailer(s) can carry a load of approximately 120-130 cubic metres loose volume.

Conversion table

	m3sk	m3f pb	m3f ub	m3 to	m3t ob	m3 s
From	To
m3sk	1	0,95	0,83	0,68	1,46	2,22
m3f pb	1,06	1	0,88	0,72	1,54	2,33
m3f ub	1,20	1,14	1	0,82	1,75	2,64
m3 to	1,46	1,39	1,22	1	1,98	3,26
m3t ob	0,69	0,65	0,57	0,50	1	1,48
m3 s	0,45	0,43	0,37	0,30	0,67	1