Growth pattern analysis of pure even-aged plantations of eight deciduous broad-leaved tree species in Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan.

Variance components and parent–offspring cor- relations of growth traits vary among the initial planting spacings in Zelkova serrata

“…Both HT and DBH values in our study were relatively smaller compared to the data previously reported for trees in Z. serrata plantations. For 28-year-old Z. serrata plantations, Yoneda (2003) recorded the means of 12.3 ± 3.8 m for HT and 13.6 ± 5.7 cm for DBH, whereas Kunizaki et al (2007) reported 14.2 m for HT and 16.8 cm for DBH. However, the densities of trees in the narrow and medium spacing intervals were higher in our treatments than in those other two studies [density at year 28 declined from 5000 trees/ha at planting to 2732 trees/ha (Yoneda, 2003) and from 1420 trees/ha at planting to 1500 trees/ha (Kunizaki et al, 2007)].…”

“…For 28-year-old Z. serrata plantations, Yoneda (2003) recorded the means of 12.3 ± 3.8 m for HT and 13.6 ± 5.7 cm for DBH, whereas Kunizaki et al (2007) reported 14.2 m for HT and 16.8 cm for DBH. However, the densities of trees in the narrow and medium spacing intervals were higher in our treatments than in those other two studies [density at year 28 declined from 5000 trees/ha at planting to 2732 trees/ha (Yoneda, 2003) and from 1420 trees/ha at planting to 1500 trees/ha (Kunizaki et al, 2007)]. The narrower initial spacing appeared to inhibit both radial and height growth in Z. serrata, likely because the higher tree density meant that the trees had to compete more intensely with neighboring trees for sunlight and soil nutrient.…”