Growth pattern analysis of major coniferous tree species in South Korea

Abstract

The size growth patterns of major coniferous trees species Pinus densiflora (Pd), Pinus koraiensis (Pk), and Larix kaempferi (Lk) in South Korea were found and compared using stem analysis. A dominant or co-dominant tree selected from each of 131 sites (39 sites for Pd, 47 sites for Pk, and 45 sites for Lk) was stemmed and analyzed for the study. Total increment (TI), periodic annual increments (PAI), mean annual increments (MAI), and growth percentage of diameter at breast height (DBH), height, and volume were numerically and statistically compared among the three tree species. As the trees age the total DBH growths of Pk and Lk were similar to each other but higher than that of Pd. A noticeable difference of total height growth was shown among the trees and the total height increment was Lk > Pk > Pd. Like the total height growth, the volume difference was noticeably different among the trees and the growth was Lk > Pk > Pd. Given no difference of DBH between Lk and Pk, the volume difference between the two species was due to height. Unlike DBH and height, MAI and PAI of volume did not meet together.. This inferred that the volume growth was still vigorous to reach the rotation age. Growth percentages of DBH, height, and volume tended to decrease with age and no difference was shown among the tree species. The growth percentage of volume was higher than that of DBH and height, while there was no difference between DBH and height.

Developing and Comparing Individual Tree Growth Models of Major Coniferous Species in South Korea Based on Stem Analysis Data

“…In addition to the total increment of tree size, current annual increment (CAI) and mean annual increment (MAI) are important growth characteristics because those indicate a quantitative amount of increment in relation to the change in age and provide an implication of growth rate, which is also used for economic assessment [8,11]. They can help to evaluate the age at which a tree achieves the maximum size [20][21][22]. Yet, there is a lack of relevant studies even for the major commercial species such as Pd, Pk, and Lk.…”

The Growth Pattern of <i>Chamaecyparis obtuse</i> Stand along Longevity in Gyeongnam Province, South Korea

“…The same result was reported by different studies showing an inverse relationship between annual growth rate and age along the longevity, as the age increase, the amount of annual growth decrease (Johnson & Abrams, 2009;Binkley et al, 2002;McMurtrie et al, 1995). A study on another species (Pinus koraiensis) in S. Korea resulted in the way of growth percentages of DBH, height and volume tended to decrease with age particularly rapidly at age 20 -30 (Seo et al, 2014(Seo et al, , 2018. Likewise, in the eastern region of S. Korea the diameter and height growth of Pinus densiflora species felled down rapidly with longevity until age 30 (Seo et al, 2015).…”

Spatiotemporal approach for estimating potential CO2 sequestration by reforestation in the Korean Peninsula

“…The future annual net CO 2 sequestration is calculated by the predicted baseline and the reforestation effect. The change of stock volume shows a high increasing rate during the early stage of growth and causes a positive effect on the annual net carbon sequestration by reforestation (Başkent et al, 2011;Seo et al, 2018).…”