<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The amount of productive foliage was assessed with the help of the relative significance of each annual needle set in their contribution to the growth of young Scots pines (<italic>Pinus sylvestris</italic>). The number of needles in the subsequent needle sets was studied retrospectively in twelve-year-old stand, and the worst needle loss years were detected. The growth rate of trees was compared with the number of needles in the annual needle sets and with the loss of needles from the assessed productive foliage. Needles in the 4<sup>th</sup> and older needle sets remaining in the trees were interpreted as useless or less important if their amount did not correlate with the growth. The second and third needle sets supported both radial and height growth. Most variation in the needle loss during 1999-2002, caused mainly by summer drought and by fungal needle cast due to <italic>Lophodermium seditiosum</italic>, occurred in the third annual needle set. Decrease in both radial and height increments in relation to the needle loss were apparent in the total material for 1997-2004, but needle loss reduced the annual growth significantly only in two-three years inside that period.</p></abstract>

The amount of productive foliage was assessed with the help of the relative significance of each annual needle set in their contribution to the growth of young Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris). The number of needles in the subsequent needle sets was studied retrospectively in twelve-year-old stand, and the worst needle loss years were detected. The growth rate of trees was compared with the number of needles in the annual needle sets and with the loss of needles from the assessed productive foliage. Needles in the 4th and older needle sets remaining in the trees were interpreted as useless or less important if their amount did not correlate with the growth. The second and third needle sets supported both radial and height growth. Most variation in the needle loss during 1999-2002, caused mainly by summer drought and by fungal needle cast due to Lophodermium seditiosum, occurred in the third annual needle set. Decrease in both radial and height increments in relation to the needle loss were apparent in the total material for 1997-2004, but needle loss reduced the annual growth significantly only in two-three years inside that period.

Growth response of young Scots pines to needle loss assessed from productive foliage

Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa Research Unit, PO Box 18, FIN-01301 Vantaa, Finland

Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, F. R. Kreutzwaldi 5, 51014 Tartu, Estonia

Finnish Forest Research Institute, Suonenjoki Research Unit, Juntintie 154, FIN-77600 Suonenjoki, Finland

Forestry Studies

The amount of productive foliage was assessed with the help of the relative significance of each annual needle set in their contribution to the growth of young...

Growth response of young Scots pines to needle loss assessed from productive foliage

Published Online: Mar 24, 2011

Page range: 5 - 22

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10132-011-0066-x

Keywords
Scots pine, needle loss, productive needles, senescent needles, drought, radial growth, height increment

This content is open access.

Growth response of young Scots pines to needle loss assessed from productive foliage

Published Online: Mar 24, 2011

Page range: 5 - 22

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10132-011-0066-x

KeywordsScots pine, needle loss, productive needles, senescent needles, drought, radial growth, height increment

This content is open access.

Keywords
Scots pine, needle loss, productive needles, senescent needles, drought, radial growth, height increment