The aim of the present study was to assess the ecophysiological state of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing at different heights on one of the typical coastal sand dunes in the dune field situated in southwestern Estonia. Dependence of the anatomical structure, morphological parameters, nutrients accumulation and biochemical characteristics of needles on the location of the site on the dune and on the concentration of nutrients in soil and in needle tissues was established. Correlation analysis revealed the dependence of chlorophyll a on the concentration of N and Mg in soil as well as in needles. The mesophyll area and chlorophyll concentration in needles were smallest on the top of the dune. The proportion of epidermis in the total needle cross-section area from the top was a little larger than in the needles from the bottom; the epicuticular wax layer on needles decreased towards the top. The length of needles and shoots was the lowest on the top of the dune, where the growth substrate contains notably less nutrients and water than needed for optimum growth of trees. The t test showed statistically significant larger average tree-ring width of the pines growing at the bottom. The pines on the top and at the bottom of the dune were not sensitive to temperature conditions. The radial growth of pines on the top of the dune was positively correlated with the total precipitation of the previous year.

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The content of nutrients in soil and needles of second-growth pines was studied on dunes of different relative height (23 m, 10 m, 5 m) in the coastal area of the Baltic Sea in South-West Estonia. Results give an insight into the nutrition status of pines on the plain and on the slopes and tops of dunes. The data obtained indicate that the logarithmic relationship is statistically significant between N, K, and Mg contents in the needles and soil and the height of the sample point on the dune. Deficiency of nutrients for the growth of pines, especially that of N and K, had developed on dunes. The study showed that on dunes the nutrition conditions and concentration of nutrients in needles depend significantly on the relative height of the growth site on the dune.

Edela-Eesti luitemetsade järelkasvu arengust ning uuenemistingimustest sambliku ja pohla kasvukohatüübis On the southwestern coast of Estonia dune pine forest covers approximately 3000 hectares. This area includes coastal pine forests. The dune pine forest natural renewal in Southwest Estonia is the object of research. The natural regeneration of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) at the cowberry site type and at the lichen site type are observed. The necessary observations were made and primary data were collected in 1999-2006 from 28 sample plots, wherefrom 16 were situated at the lichen and 12 at the cowberry site type. The aim of the present study was to find out how old stand and forest site type influences the growth of second growth (height, height increment, age and number of trees per unit area) and its morphological parameters (length of needles and shoots and their dry mass).