Rocky Mountain Juniper Seed Source Test in Western Kansas, U.S.

Abstract

Twenty-six sources of Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum Sarg.) were established as a provenance test near Colby, Kansas, U.S. in 1980. Height, diameter, survival, number of stems, crown density, branch angle, and vigor were evaluated with analysis of variance, cluster analysis, simple correlation, and regression analysis techniques. Source differences were found. Total height at 23 years ranged from 3.6 to 5.4 m (11.9 to 17.8 ft), diameter breast height (dbh) ranged from 5.6 to 10.4 cm (2.2 to 4.2 in), and survival from 10% to 100%. Height growth was weakly related to geographic variables, but dbh was related to latitude, longitude, and elevation. Selection of fast-growing sources may begin at 5 years after field planting.