Survival, height growth and damages of Siberian (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) and Dahurian (Larix gmelinii Rupr.) larch provenances in field trials located in southern and northern Finland

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse differences in the survival and height growth of, as well as damages to Siberian (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) and Dahurian (Larix gmelinii Rupr.) larch provenances over four growing seasons in field trials established in 2006 in southern (Punkaharju) and northern Finland (Kivalo). In this context, the study also investigated if the geographical and climatic conditions of the origin of the provenance could explain the differences between the provenances. The study material consisted of 20 Russian Siberian and Dahurian larch provenances and five seed sources from Finland (4) and Russia (1) as comparison lots. It was found that the Finnish seed sources of Siberian larch survived well in both the Kivalo and Punkaharju trials. Five northern latitude Russian provenances, of which one was Dahurian and the remainder were Siberian larches, had the highest survival in Kivalo. However, the differences observed in survival between provenances were only significant (p < 0.05) in Kivalo. Regardless of the trial, the differences, however, in height growth were significant and large between provenances. The southern Dahurian larches had a superior height growth in Punkaharju. The northern Dahurian larch provenance from Magadan (59°50´N, 150°40´E) had the largest height growth in Kivalo, among some northern Siberian larches. Damages were diverse, though Dahurian larches had less mammal damage than the Siberian larches. In general, the differences between provenances were not significant. Latitude and altitude best explained the differences between provenances, but also mean temperature, temperature sum and continentality index affected them (p < 0.05).

Vitality and height growth of two <i>Larix</i> species and provenances in a field trial located in north-west Russia

“…• These findings were in agreement with those of Lukkarinen et al (2010) using the same material at the same age for field trial located in Punkaharju (Finland).…”

“…The results obtained by Lukkarinen et al (2010) and Karlman et al (2011) using similar materials (of approximately the same age) for field trials in Finland and Sweden offered an opportunity to compare larch tree vitality and growth along a longitudinal gradient. The field trials at Särna (61°31´N, 13°00´E) in Sweden and at Punkaharju (61°49´N, 29°19´E) in Finland were at similar latitudes (but a different longitude) to the Syktyvkar field trial (see Materials and methods).…”

“…The overall survival was higher (by about 20%) for the Syktyvkar field trial compared to the Särna and Punkaharju trials. The reason for the lower survival at Punkaharju was pine weevil damage to the seedlings (Lukkarinen et al 2010), while Särna has very stony soil conditions, resulting in occasional poor soil scarification (Karlman et al 2011). The higher altitude at Särna could also be an additional reason for increased seedling mortality.…”

“…The series of the field trials with the same material of Russian larches was established in Canada, China, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States (Martinsson and Takata 2005). Recently Lukkarinen et al (2010) and Karlman et al (2011) reported on survival, growth and damage to Russian larch material at the age four and five years in the field trials located in Finland and Sweden, respectively.…”

“…The objectives of this study were to compare vitality and growth of L. sukaczewii and L. sibirica seedlings under field conditions; evaluate the relationships between tree vitality and growth with climatic and geographic variables; and to study genotype × environment interaction for L. sukaczewii and L. sibirica at the provenance level using the findings of Lukkarinen et al (2010) and Karlman et al (2011). These results would be important for a proper selection of provenances for commercial planting.…”