Jaco-Pierre Van der Merwe

PhD Student

JPvdMerwe@york.co.za
LinkedIn: Jaco-Pierre van der Merwe

Project

The impact of altitude, soil geology and soil depth on P. patula solid wood properties for structural timber and plywood production.

Research Interest

Solid wood processors face challenges when producing multiple products with diverse product specifications, from an inherently heterogeneous timber or fibre source. Therefore it is important to predict the wood quality potential of plantation grown pine trees to ensure timber with the desired wood properties are delivered to specific timber processing lines. However, there is limited knowledge on the key drivers impacting pine wood formation and quality of plantation grown pine trees in South Africa.

It has been well established that both genotype and environment have a significant impact on pine wood properties. Currently the majority of South African pine plantations are established Pinus patula. The objective of this project is to evaluate planation grown P. patula trees across a range of site types and to link specific environmental features where this species is grown with solid wood properties and wood recovery. Therefore this study aims to investigate the impacts of altitude, soil geology and soil depth on tree form and wood quality in relation to:

  • Wood density (specific gravity)
  • Microfibril angle (MFA)
  • MOE of annual growth rings
  • Eccentricity of annual growth rings
  • Early wood: Late wood ratios
  • Structural timber properties of sawn timber boards (MOE and MOR)
  • Veneer grades produced during rotary peeling

Wood qualities are known to play an important part in timber recovery and product quality when processing pine roundwood. As part of the study, the value recovered from respective log assortments will be determined The study will be focused on the Escarpment and Highveld region in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, due to the regions diverse growing conditions.

Education

BSc – Forest and Wood Science, Stellenbosch University (2011)

MSc – Forest and Wood Science, Stellenbosch University (2011)

Selected Publications and Presentations

Presentations

van der Merwe J-P, Pulkki RE , Ackerman PA, Längin D  (2014)  The impact of mechanical log surface damage on fibre loss and chip quality when processing Eucalyptus pulpwood using a single-grip harvester. FCBA 2014- 5th Forest Engineering Conference, Gerardmer, France, Presentation.

van der Merwe J-P, Pulkki RE , Ackerman PA, Längin D (2013) The impact of mechanical log surface damage on fibre loss and chip quality when processing Eucalyptus pulpwood using a single-grip harvester.  Forestry South Africa 2013 – Focus on Forest Engineering conference, Mpumalanga, South Africa, Presentation.

Publications

van der Merwe JP, Pulkki RE, Ackerman PA, Längin D (2018) The impact of log surface damage caused by harvester Eucalyptus debarking on pulp value recovery. Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science, 80(2):105-113.

van der Merwe JP, Pulkki RE, Ackerman PA, Längin D (2016). The impact of log moisture content on chip size distribution when processing eucalyptus pulpwood. Croatian Journal of Forestry Engineering, 37(2): 297-307.

van der Merwe JP, Pulkki RE, Ackerman PA. (2016). The impact of mechanical log surface damage on chip size uniformity during debranching and debarking Eucalyptus pulpwood logs using a single-grip harvester. Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science, (78)2: 159-167.

van der Merwe JP, Pulkki RE, Ackerman PA (2015). Fibre losses during debranching and debarking of Eucalyptus pulp logs using a single-grip harvester. Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science, 77(4): 309-313.

Awards, Grants, Scholarships

  • Mondi Forests bursary, 2012-2013.
  • Forest Industries Education and Training Authority (FIETA) bursary, 2008-2011.