Defoliation of conifers in the North Estonian industrial region
2000
Ots, K. | Rauk, J. (Estonian Agricultural Univ., Tartu (Estonia). Forest Research Inst.)
In 1985-99 studies were carried out in the area of the Kunda cement plant on North Estonian coastal plain on sample plots stretching 1.5 and 2.5 km east and 2 km and 3 km west, where changes in crown damages and radial increment of pine and spruce were estimated. The selected stands were with 0.7-0.8 density and II quality class, with moderately dense or sprase understorey, 75-85-year-old Myrtillus site type pine or spruce stands. Practically every tree in the area of intensive dust pollution had signs of damage. The relations between the defoliation and radial increment in the region were not linear. Weak defoliation (up to 25 per cent) influences slightly the radial growth. The correlations were more evident on Pinus sylvestris with more than half of the trees in the area having moderate or strong defoliation (at least 30-35 per cent). We suppose that defoliation, which leads to a decrease in the assimilating area of trees, causes essential changes in physiological processes. In the region of intensive pollution stress the radial increment decreased along with the defoliation level on both Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies
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