The effect of two different price systems on the value and cross-cutting patterns of Norway spruce logs

A computer program of a forward reaching algorithm of dynamic programming is presented for optimal log bucking. The application is implemented using an object-oriented programming approach. Sensitivity analyses were applied for evaluating the effects in terms of economic value and usable volume, and of altering the price system for saw wood. The data used consisted of 451 Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stems collected from 13 forest sites located in three regions in Norway. Grade I and Grade II saw wood and pulpwood were used. The mean timber value increased approximately 1% when the new price system was introduced. The value obtained by introducing the new prices varied between the sites (0.1%-1.6%) as well as between regions (0.3%-1.6%). The analyses based on taper equations over-estimated the total value for all the alternatives. Finally. decreasing the width of stem sections and increasing the number of log length alternatives increased the total value of the sample trees but increased the computation time.