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DIFFERENCES IN RADIAL INCREMENT OF YOUNG NORWAY SPRUCE OVER A ROTATION PERIOD: CASE STUDY IN LATVIA

Solveiga Luguza

Abstract

Climate change is expected to improve the increment of trees in Northern Europe, as suggested by results of numerous models. Recent analysis of empirical data from Central Europe have demonstrated an improved growth of Norway spruce over the last century due to several factors, including climate change. Aim of our study was to assess the changes of increment of young Pice abies on wet and drained mineral soils over a rotation period (80 years) in Latvia. Increment cores at breast height were taken from 119 trees at the age of 30-40 and 110-120 years, randomly selected in 55 sample plots from 12 stands across Latvia. All stands were on fertile mineral soils, suitable for Norway spruce. Analysis of older trees demonstrate, that mean increment of 30 year period is decreasing with age of the tree, as expected, and then increasing again, presumably, due to influence of drainage or self-thinning. However, the increment of the first 30 years of young trees is notably higher than that of the same period for currently old tree. Considering the very limited cross-border fertilization and emergence of trees via natural regeneration (no tree breeding effect), climate change is the most likely cause of improved growth.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2018v/1.5/s03.074

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