The relationship between the needle age and the growth rate in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris): a retrospective analysis by needle trace method (NTM)

Variation in annual radial and height increments (RI and HI, respectively) as well as the number of needles belonging to different needle sets of successive annual shoots, determined by the needle trace method (NTM), was studied retrospectively in Scots pine stands, one in southern Finland and two in Estonia. The connection between different needle sets and tree growth was studied by correlation and covariance analyses. The numbers of needles of the three youngest needle sets were positively correlated with growth, whereas the number of needles older than 3 years had no significant correlation. The covariance analysis emphasized the negative relationship of older needle sets with tree growth. It is generally concluded that the two or three youngest needle sets are important and all older needles minimally contribute to growth, possibly because of their small quantity. Older needles may remain on the tree if assimilation is impeded for some reason, e.g. due to premature loss in the two youngest needle sets. The trees having attached old needles grew less than those that had already totally lost these needle sets.