One-hundred-year foliage comparison of Pinus ponderosa and Pinus sylvestris under dry growing conditions in Brandenburg, Germany

Abstract

The dynamics of six different needle parameters of Pinus sylvestris L. and Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex P. & C. Laws. were examined retrospectively for a 112-year-old mixed stand in Brandenburg, Germany, using the needle trace method. Similarities were found in needle production, needle loss and needle density. However, needle age, needle retention and total number of needles revealed significant differences between the tree species, with higher values for P. ponderosa. Pinus ponderosa yielded approximately twice as much mean whole-crown needle dry mass as P. sylvestris. Furthermore, different branching systems could be detected between the species, with both pines following “Corner's rule”. The results suggest that under identical growing conditions, P. ponderosa exhibits more efficient water use and can therefore maintain a bigger crown (as the basis for increased growth) than P. sylvestris.

Keywords:

• Foliation
• needle age
• needle dry weight
• needle retention
• needle trace method
• Ponderosa pine
• Scots pine

Professor Dr Karl-Willi Lockow of the “Landesforstanstalt Eberswalde” is acknowledged for his endless support and for enabling the use of Adam Schwappach's trials. This research was supported by a grant from the government of the Principality of Liechtenstein (Stipendienkomission).