Abstract
Silver maple shows promise for use in short-rotation intensive culture energy plantings. A seed source study composed of trees from 26 midwest locations was established in south-central Nebraska in 1979 to determine where silver maple seed should be collected for use in the central Great Plains. Trees were evaluated for survival, height growth, and number of dominant stems per tree during their seventh growing season. Sources from eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, eastern Kansas, and northwest Missouri generally exhibited the greatest survival, height growth, and number of dominant stems. Height growth appears to be under stronger genetic control than stem number, suggesting that selection for height should take priority when selecting trees for biomass production. Geographic trends related to survival and height growth, but not stem number, were observed. Environmental or geographic factors that are strong predictors of seed source performance could not be identified. Planting the most locally produced seed is advisable for the central Plains. North. J. Appl. For. 5:180-184, Sept. 1988.
Performance of Green Ash Seed Sources at Four Locations in the Great Plains Region
