Seasonal Growth of Differently Aged Picea abies L. (Karst.) Trees in Northern Karelia

Complete text of the article:

Download article (pdf, 0.4MB )

UDС

630*182:674.032.475.542

DOI:

Abstract

A plant’s need for certain environmental conditions can vary significantly during its ontogeny. Thus, depending on the age of the tree its seasonal growth apparently has its own peculiarities that must be taken into account when conducting certain forestry activities. The research was carried out in the north of Karelia (northern taiga subzone) in differently aged stands (polewood, ripening and overripe trees) in a blueberry spruce forest. We have studied the seasonal growth of shoots, needles and trunks. The research results were processed by the methods of variation statistics. Seasonal growth of vegetative organs of 34 to 153-year-old trees proved to have the same sequence. In late May, shoots start to grow; a week later there appear young needles, and ten days later the trunk wood starts developing. Growth of the vegetative organs under study reaches its climax in the first half of July. Shoots stop growing at the end of July, and the needles and branches ­– in the second half of August. Start of shoot growth does not depend on the age of the tree. Needles and trunk wood in young trees start developing 3–6 days earlier than in the relatively old ones. Old trees start forming trunk wood about a week later than the young ones. The growth rate of the vegetative organs under study is reducing significantly with the tree ageing. It is mainly this fact that can explain the discrepancy between their annual growth in differently aged trees.

Authors

I.T. Kishchenko, Doctor of Biology, Professor

Petrozavodsk State University

Affiliation

Petrozavodsk State University

Keywords

growth, Picea abies, age of plants.

References

1. Kishchenko I.T. Rost i razvitie aborigennykh i introdutsirovannykh vidov semeystva Pinacea Lindl v usloviyakh Karelii [Growth and Development of Local and Introduced Species of Pinacea Lindl in Karelia]. Petrozavodsk, 2000. 211 p. 2. Molchanov A.A., Smirnov V.V. Metodika izucheniya prirosta drevesnykh rasteniy [Methods for Studying the Growth of Woody Plants]. Moscow, 1967. 95 p. 3. Ostroshenko V.V. Sezonnyy rost eli ayanskoy [Seasonal Growth of Jezo Spruce]. Lesnoe khozyaystvo, 1982, no. 4, pp. 52 –55. 4. Kharitonovich F.N. Zakonomernosti rosta sosny obyknovennoy [Mechamisms of Scots Pine Growth]. Lesnoe khozyaystvo, 1961, no. 11, pp. 18–22.