scholarly journals Disturbances in variation of the annual ring width of Norway spruce in the Polish Western Beskids Mountains

2012 ◽  
Vol 51 (No. 12) ◽  
pp. 539-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Wilczyński ◽  
E. Feliksik

Changes in radial increment of Norway spruce in 25 stands more than 100 years old were analysed. Stands were growing on sites of different exposure situated at 450–1,200 m above sea level in the Polish Western Beskids Mountains. In the mid-1990s a considerable increase in annual ring width was observed. The greatest increase occurred in trees growing at the highest altitudes. This phenomenon occurred after a long period of increment decrease at the turn of the 1970s. After 1990 as the annual ring width was increasing, the variation and amplitude of ring width also increased. The cause of a long-term increase in radial increment was the improvement of thermal and pluvial conditions during late winter and early spring having a substantial effect on Norway spruce growth. In the 1990s the period of rapid changes in thermal and pluvial conditions of summer began. After moist and cold summers there were hot and dry summers. This resulted in increased variations and amplitude of the growth responses of Norway spruce and contributed to the weakening of trees above 100 years of age. The increasing break-up of Norway spruce stands growing in the lower mountain zone of the Polish Western Beskids Mountains, observed in recent years, is the final effect of this process.

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 1061-1074 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadios Habite ◽  
Anders Olsson ◽  
Jan Oscarsson

Abstract Knowledge of annual ring width and location of pith in relation to board cross-sections, and how these properties vary in the longitudinal direction of boards, is relevant for many purposes, such as assessment of shape mechanical properties and stability of sawn timber. Hence, the present research aims at developing a novel method and an algorithm, based on data obtained from optical surface scanning, by which the pith location along the length of sawn timber boards can be determined accurately and automatically. The first step of the method is to identify clear wood sections, free of defects along boards. Then time-frequency analysis, using the continuous wavelet transform, is applied to detect the surface annual ring width distribution of the four sides of the selected sections. Finally, the pith location is estimated by comparing annual ring width distributions on the different surfaces, and assuming that annual rings are concentric circles with the pith in the centre. The proposed algorithm was applied to a total sample of 104 Norway spruce boards. Results indicate that optical scanners and the suggested automatic method allow for accurate detection of annual ring width and location of pith along boards. For a sample of boards with the pith located within the cross-section, a mean error of 2.6 mm and 3.2  mm in the depth and thickness direction, respectively, was obtained. For a sample of boards of which 60% with pith located outside the cross-section, a mean discrepancy between automatically and manually determined pith locations of 3.9 mm and 5.8 mm in depth and thickness direction, respectively, was obtained.


2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 136-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riikka Piispanen ◽  
Jaakko Heinonen ◽  
Sauli Valkonen ◽  
Harri Mäkinen ◽  
Sven-Olof Lundqvist ◽  
...  

This study focused on wood density and annual ring width in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) grown in uneven-aged stands (UAS). In total, 96 trees were harvested from five UAS that had been managed by single-tree selection for decades. A data set of 27 trees from even-aged stands (EAS) was used for comparison. In the UAS trees, high density and narrow annual rings were found in the juvenile wood near the pith. Thereafter, wood density rapidly decreased until the 20th annual ring, followed by an increase toward the bark. In the outermost rings, wood density again slightly decreased. The trends in wood density in the UAS trees correspond with those reported for naturally regenerated, even-aged Norway spruce stands, with the exception of the decrease in the outermost rings. A mixed linear model with ring width, cambial age, and canopy position as fixed parameters accounted for 53% of the variation in wood density of the UAS trees. In contrast to UAS trees, EAS trees showed increased wood density in the outer rings as a result of decreasing growth rate. The abrupt change in wood density of UAS trees may affect the properties of timber sawn close to the pith.


2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Endijs Baders ◽  
Janis Donis ◽  
Guntars Snepsts ◽  
Andis Adamovics ◽  
Aris Jansons

Abstract Pruning requires significant investment, therefore, the aim of the study was to characterize occlusion of branch wounds and changes in radial increment as well as frequency of browsing damages after pruning of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) in order to provide data for financial calculations and recommendations for practical forestry. Altogether 1,614 pruned and 4,368 unpruned trees from 45 Norway spruce stands were measured and cored. Degree of wound occlusion and browsing damages were assessed, and additional volume increment estimated in each stand. Pruning resulted in significant increase of length of branch-free section: for unpruned trees it was 0.3 ± 0.07 m, but for pruned 3.4 ± 0.10 m. Branch wounds for most of the trees (68%) were filled with resin (occluded), for lower share of trees (31%) – still open, but for some trees (1%) completely occluded. Branch wound occlusion rate was not affected by differences in stand density, but was significantly affected by stand age: proportion of trees with occluded branch scars increased with age. Trees with occluded branch wounds had a significantly higher increase in tree ring width after the pruning in comparison to the period before pruning than trees with open branch wounds, emphasizing the importance of radial increment in development of branch-free layer of wood. Pruning resulted in minor (−7% or −0.28 ± 0.05 m3 ha−1) reduction of annual increment that was statistically significant only up to 3 years after this forest management activity for stands younger than 17 years and with mean height up to 10.5 m. Pruned trees were significantly more browsed than unpruned (6.1% and 2.7%, respectively).


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Jan Světlík ◽  
Jan Krejza ◽  
Pavel Bednář

Tree growth depends on many factors such as microsite conditions, vitality, and variations in climate and genetics. It is generally accepted that higher growth indicates both an economic benefit and better vitality of any tree. Here we use a modified approach of evaluating tree social area to study mutual tree competition based on the orientation and shape of trees social area. The investigation was performed in nine Norway spruce stands in the Czech Republic. The objective of this study performed from 2008 to 2012 was to quantify relative tree radial increments with respect to the lowest and highest competition found in specific sectors of tree social area (AS). Specific groups of trees (tree classes) were evaluated according to their classes (dominant, co-dominant and sub-dominant) and their composition status in ninety-degree sectors of AS using established classifying rules. The results showed that a spatially-available area (AA) is an inappropriate parameter for predicting tree growth, whereas AS provided robust explanatory power to predict relative radial growth. Tree size was observed as an important indicator of relative radial increments. A significantly positive correlation was found for a radial increment of sub-dominant trees with the lowest competition from western directions; whereas a negative correlation was observed when the lowest competition was observed from eastern directions. For dominant trees, there was an evident growth reaction only when more than 50% of the AS was oriented towards one of the cardinal points. Individual differences in the orientation of tree AS may be important parameters with regard to competition and its spatial variability within an area surrounding a particular tree and deserve more detailed attention in tree growth models and practice.


Author(s):  
Kaspars Šķēle ◽  
Dace Cīrule ◽  
Anda Alksne ◽  
Jurijs Hrols

The paper considers the variation o f annual ring parameters and physical properties of wood of the pine species prevailing in Latvia’s forests, depending on the forest type (bog-land, vacciniosa) and the growth region in Latvia (Vidzeme, Latgale). Wood samples were taken from the stem butt-end, the middle and 3 A o f the height, in its sapwood or core part. An average annual ring width, latewood and earlywood width in the year ring, the percentage of latewood in the annual ring, wood density in oven-dry state (0), tangential swelling (tg) and radial swelling (rad) o f wood, as well as volume swelling (v) and swelling anisotropy coefficient (k) o f wood were determined for the samples. A comparison of these data shows that, in the majority of cases, the indices for the wood of pines grown in vacciniose have higher values, which suggests the advantage of pine wood over the bog-land pine wood. In its turn, no unambiguous distinctions between the parameter values for pine wood o f Latgale and Vidzeme origin were found, although the pine wood of Vidzeme origin had a somewhat higher indices. It may be concluded that the greatest impact on the leading pine wood properties is caused by the forest types regarded herewith, and not the belonging o f the pine wood site to its different growth regions in Latvia.


1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 1429-1432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousry A. El-Kassaby ◽  
Hugh J. Barclay

The balance between allocating energy resources to reproduction or growth has considerable theoretical interest. Conflicting ecological requirements and evolutionary pressures often necessitate a trade-off in energy allocation. We obtained measurements on seed-cone production and annual ring width of 365 Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees from 29 open-pollinated families for 8 years. Phenotypic, genetic, and environmental correlations were computed for seed-cone production and ring width for each year. Five of the eight environmental correlations were negative (range −0.077 to −0.305), reflecting the reality of the trade-off in physiological terms. Six of the eight genetic correlations were negative (range −0.199 to −0.776), indicating that a trade-off exists at the genetic level between energy allocation to reproduction and to somatic growth. These findings agree with the current theory of life-history evolution. Key words: Pseudotsuga menziesii, cone production, annual ring width, genetic correlation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 930-941 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arne Nothdurft ◽  
Sonja Vospernik

A novel methodological framework is presented for climate-sensitive modeling of annual radial stem increment using year-ring width time series. The approach is based on a generalized additive model with penalized regression splines together with a distributed time lag model taking into account smooth nonlinear effects of a series of monthly temperature and precipitation values, as well as their interactions. Climate effects are also assumed to vary smoothly with time lag. The model framework enables both the detrending of the individual time series and the regression modeling to be performed simultaneously in a single model step. The approach is applied to year-ring width time series of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) trees in Tyrol, Austria. The marginal response curves show that tree growth is mainly promoted by high temperatures in late spring and early summer and by precipitation in fall and winter. Summer drought does not have a negative influence on the current year’s radial increment; however, when it is associated with high temperatures, it lowers the increment in the subsequent growth period. Higher winter precipitation in conjunction with lower temperatures has a positive effect. A significant non-climate related long-term growth trend is demonstrated, probably reflecting NOx and SO2 emission trends in Austria.


2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 769-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harri Mäkinen ◽  
Pekka Nöjd ◽  
Kari Mielikäinen

Regional and temporal growth patterns of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) were evaluated in 40 stands along a transect of over 500 km running from central Finland to the Arctic spruce timberline. Standard deviation of the ring-width series increased from south to north, but the geographical differences in mean sensitivity and first-order autocorrelation were small. The high degree of similarity in growth variation between stands indicated similar growth responses of trees to weather variation despite different environmental conditions along the transect. The most pronounced differences in the regional increment chronologies were found between the southernmost and northernmost stands. Growth variation was most strongly correlated with current June mean temperature, and correlation between growth and July temperature increased from south to north. In addition, negative correlation was observed between winter temperatures, particularly February temperature, and growth variation. Growth was more weakly correlated with precipitation than with temperature.


2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 899-909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Staffan Jacobson ◽  
Folke Pettersson

To study growth responses to refertilization, 12 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and 6 Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands used in long-term nitrogen (N) fertilization experiments were refertilized with N, either alone or with various combinations and doses of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg). Many of the experimental plots had previously been subjected to heavy N fertilization regimes over a period of 20–30 years. On average, for all the experiments, the latest N addition resulted in a significant growth increase, corresponding to 57% of the mean annual volume increment and comparable with the response to the initial fertilization. Differences in growth response between fertilization with N alone or in combination with P–K–Mg were in most cases insignificant for both tree species. Overall, the joint addition of P–K–Mg resulted in a nonsignificant additional growth increase of 0.2 m3·ha–1·year–1, corresponding to 6% of the N fertilization effect. Repeated additions of N alone had no effect on the P, K, and Mg concentrations in current-year needles. It was concluded that the repeated N fertilizations did not cause any serious nutrient deficiencies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 875 (1) ◽  
pp. 012074
Author(s):  
B Aparin ◽  
B Babikov ◽  
D Zolotukhin ◽  
E Mingareeva

Abstract The study presents an analysis of radial growth of Scots pine and Norway spruce trees growing on drained soils formed on varved clays at the sample sites of the Lisino Experimental Forestry (Lisino). Based on dendrochronological studies in Lisino, it has been found that the radial growth of Scots pine and Norway spruce is a sensitive indicator of changes in the soil water regime, climate, and phytocenotic relationships. On the basis of the character of tree-ring width growth, the growth charts allowed distinguishing zones with close to average growth values, as well as with increased and decreased values of radial growth. The cyclical pattern of tree ring width is well expressed in the successive change of zones. The availability of dendrochronological research materials with precise spatial and temporal reference makes it possible to organize monitoring of radial growth of trees as an indicator of changes in climate and habitat conditions.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document