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Seasonal growth characteristics of red beech, Corsican pine, ponderosa pine, radiata pine, and douglas fir nursery seedlings
Authors: G. BakerPublication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 1987, Issue N.Z.J.For. 32(4) 1988, pp 22-24, Jan 1988
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry
Abstract: Weekly measurements of shoot extension in red beech (Nothofagus fusca), Corsican pine (Pinus nigra), ponderosa pine (P. ponderosa), radiata pine (P. radiata), and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings were compared for the 1984-85 growing season at the Forest Research Institute nursery at Rangiora, Canterbury. The period of rapid shoot extension and time of bud set varied markedly between the five species. More than 70% of total seasonal height growth of Corsican pine and ponderosa pine was made during the months of October and November compared with the longer rapid growth period (3-5.5 months) for the other species. The rapid shoot growth phase of red beech, radiata pine, and Douglas fir seedlings followed the pattern of mean monthly air temperature, but shoot growth and bud set of Corsican pine and ponderosa pine was less dependent on temperature. The results of this study suggest that undercutting and wrenching need to be co-ordinated with the period of rapid shoot growth.