Internal distribution of sound and dead knots in Picea abies (L.) Karst.

(L.) Karst. in the south-eastern part of Norway. Distribution of sound and dead knots was evaluated as the mean and the range of the radial extension of sound knots within each whorl. The mean value was found to increase with increasing height in the lower 40% of the tree height followed by an upwards decreasing trend. It was related to diameter at breast height and annual ring width together with site index. The range of sound knot length within a whorl was calculated to 22 mm on average. It was found to be increasing up to 30% of tree height followed by a decrease upwards. The range was related to site index, diameter at breast height, eccentricity and to difference in height to the lowest living branch and the lowest living whorl.