Response of slash pine planted on mounds in central and southwestern Louisiana

On two silt loam flatwoods in Louisiana, use of mounds as planting sites for slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) was shown to be more effective than planting without mounds (untreated control) after six growing seasons in the field. Mounds formed were of two sizes: low mounds made of 550 dm³ of soil and high mounds made of 1,000 dm³ of soil. One site was in central Louisiana and had two drainage classes: a somewhat poorly drained Caddo-Messer complex and a poorly drained Caddo soil. On both drainage classes, pine survival was not affected by treatment, but the incidence of fusiform rust galls on the main stem (caused by Cronartium quercuum (Berk.) Miyabe ex Shirai f. sp. fusiforme Burdsall and Snow) was greater on trees planted on mounds. The second site was a poorly drained Caddo soil in southwestern Louisiana. At this site, there were fewer surviving pines on controls than on mounds, but the incidence of rust galls was not affected by treatment. At both sites, pines were taller and had a greater mean diameter at breast height on mounds than on controls. Mound size did not influence tree size at either site.     

Planting slash pine in a dense pasture sod

Recommendations for planting pines usually include providing a competition-free site to assure establishment and good early growth. When combining pines and pasture in agroforestry systems, the possibility of planting pines directly into a pasture sod without site treatment would be economically desirable. In south Georgia, USA, slash pine (Pinus elliottii) was planted into a pasture sod and on well-disked sites; both with and without annual fertilization. Partial weed control was maintained in subsequent years on the cultivated treatments and the pasture sod was mowed periodically.Slash pine establishment and growth rate through 5 years generally was not different among treatments. Survival was 96% intially and 86% after 5 years. The pines grew rapidly with no measurable advantage from cultivation or fertilization.This alternative to providing a competition-free environment needs to be tested under differing climates, soils, tree species, and pasture species. It could be a suitable technique in various situations and of special interest to small, nonindustrial landowners.Cooperative study between the Coastal Plain Experiment Station, University of Georgia, and USDA Forest Service, Tifton, GA 31794, USA.     

Aboveground biomass and nitrogen in four short-rotation woody crop species growing with different water and nutrient availabilities

We quantified the effect of water and nutrient availability on aboveground biomass and nitrogen accumulation and partitioning in four species from the southeastern United States, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), slash pine (Pinus elliottii), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). The 6-year-old stands received five levels of resource input (control, irrigation with 3.05 cm water week⁻¹, irrigation + 57 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, irrigation + 85 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, and irrigation + 114 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). Irrigation significantly increased foliage, stem, and branch biomass for sweetgum and sycamore, culminating in 103% and 238% increases in total aboveground biomass. Fertilization significantly increased aboveground components for all species resulting in 49, 58, 281, and 132% increases in total aboveground biomass for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Standing total aboveground biomass of the fertilized treatments reached 79, 59, 48, and 54 Mg ha⁻¹ for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Fertilization increased foliar nitrogen concentration for loblolly pine, sweetgum, and sycamore foliage. Irrigation increased total stand nitrogen content by 6, 14, 93, and 161% for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Fertilization increased total nitrogen content by 62, 53, 172, and 69% with maximum nitrogen contents of 267, 212, 237, and 203 kg ha⁻¹ for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Growth efficiency (stem growth per unit of leaf biomass) and nitrogen use efficiency (stem growth per unit of foliar nitrogen content) increased for the sycamore and sweetgum, but not the loblolly or slash pine.     

First-year freeze hardiness of pure species and hybrid taxa of Pinus elliottii (Engelman) and Pinus caribaea (Morelet)

Six pine taxa were compared for freeze hardiness following 2 whole plant freeze tests carried out in early and late winter 1993–94. Pure species included slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelman) (PEE), Caribbean pine (Pinus caribaea Morelet) var. bahamensis (PCB), and var. hondurensis (PCH). The same six slash pine parents served as the female parents of the pure slash pine taxon and were control pollinated to create the F₁ hybrids of slash pine × Caribbean pine var. bahamensis (F1B), the F₁ of slash pine × Caribbean pine var. hondurensis (F1H), and the backcross of slash pine × (slash pine × var. hondurensis (B1H). Four traits related to adaptation (bud set, foliage/stem damage, survival) were compared. Significant differences existing among the three species at all temperatures for both freeze tests. The 3 hybrid taxa were intermediate to parental taxa for all measured traits and only at extreme temperatures was there an indication of hybrid vigor. However, inspection of foliage damage curves to estimate temperatures at which 50 percent damage occurs indicated that the hybrids deviated from the mid parent value toward the more freeze susceptible parent. Discriminant functions which included foliage damage and survival traits provided the best segregation of taxa groupings and the combining of canonical variable 1 for these discriminant functions placed hybrids intermediate to parental taxa. Parent × taxa interaction was significant, suggesting that within these taxa, family to family variation occurred, but different maternal parents were associated with the freeze hardly families in different taxa.This is Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. R-04852 of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611     

Aboveground biomass of three conifers in the Qianyanzhou plantation, Jiangxi Province, China

Regressive models of the aboveground biomass for three conifers in subtropical China—slash pine (Pinus elliottii), Masson pine (P. massoniana) and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata)—were established. Regression analysis of leaf biomass and total biomass of each branch against branch diameter (d), branch length (L), d ³ and d ² L was conducted with functions of linear, power and exponent. A power law equation with a single parameter (d) was proved to be better than the rest for Masson pine and Chinese fir, and a linear equation with parameter (d ³) is better for slash pine. The canopy biomass was derived by adopting the regression equations to all branches of each individual tree. These kinds of equations were also used to fit the relationship between total tree biomass, branch biomass, foliage biomass and tree diameter at breast height (D), tree height (H), D ³ and D ² H, respectively. D ² H was found to be the best parameter for estimating total biomass. However, for foliage biomass and branch biomass, both parameters and equation forms showed some differences among species. Correlations were highly significant (P<0.001) for foliage biomass, branch biomass and total biomass, among which the equation of the total biomass was the highest. With these equations, the aboveground biomass of Masson pine forest, slash pine forest and Chinese fir forest were estimated, in addition to the allocation of aboveground biomass. The above-ground biomass of Masson pine forest, slash pine forest and Chinese fir forest was 83.6, 72.1 and 59 t/hm² respectively, and the stem biomass was more than the foliage biomass and the branch biomass. The underground biomass of these three forests which estimated with others’ research were 10.44, 9.42 and 11.48 t/hm², and the amount of carbon-fixed were 47.94, 45.14 and 37.52 t/hm², respectively. __________ Translated from Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2006, 17(8): 1382–1388 [译自: 应用生态学报]     

Integration of pines and pastures for hay and grazing

When combining pine and cattle production on improved pastures, grazing may have to be delayed for several years until trees are large enough to resist injury. During this period forage would be lost unless harvested for hay. This study in south Georgia, USA, examined hay production during the first 3 years, cattle production during the next 3 years, and effects of this management system on survival and growth of slash pine(Pinus elliottii) planted in widely-spaced rows within the pastures. Pines were planted at 225 trees/ha in configurations of 3.0 x 14.6 or 4.9 x 9.1 m in pastures recently sprigged or seeded with Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) or Pensacola bahiagrass(Paspalum notatum). Pastures were fertilized annually and cut for hay four or five times each year. Wide-row spacings permitted haying operations, but tree rows and turning areas removed 5 to 8 percent of the area from production. However, hay yields and liveweight gains by yearling cattle were near normal for this locale. Slash pine planted in these fertilized pastures survived well, grew rapidly, and only a few trees were killed during haying operations. After 6 years, 83 percent of the trees survived and averaged 6.5 m in height and 13.2 cm in diameter. Cattle killed a few trees by rubbing during the 4th year. Wide-row spacing of pines permits harvesting forage for hay while waiting for the trees to become large enough to permit grazing. This approach to agroforestry produces annual returns to the landowner while awaiting maturity of the pines.     

Bud development and dormancy in slash and loblolly pine. II. Effects of ethephon applications

Ethephon application on four dates did not induce budset in slash and loblolly pine seedlings. Ethephon promoted slash pine budbreak by 11 days when applied in mid-November and delayed loblolly pine budbreak by 8 days when applied in late November. Mid-November and early February applications of ethephon promoted height growth of both species.     

Cattle grazing and pine survival and growth in subterranean clover pasture

When combining pines and cattle on tame pasture, grazing is often delayed for several years until trees are large enough to resist injury. As an alternative approach to delayed or deferred grazing during the early years, this study in central Louisiana, USA, examined the effects of cattle grazing in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) pastures on slash (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) and loblolly pine (P. taeda L.) seeding survival and growth during the first 3 years of tree establishment. Pines were planted at about 1200 trees/ha in 3 rows on 0.4-ha subclover units with 1.3 m spacing within rows. Three grazing treatments included: (1) ungrazed pines, (2) limited grazing with a single-wire electric fence above the planted pines, and (3) grazed pines. Thirty Brahman crossbred cows with calves and a bull grazed the tame pasture on a controlled grazing, rotational basis from December through May each year, during the subterranean clover growing season. Pine trampling injury during the year was 8% on the grazed seedlings while essentially none occured under limited grazing. During the first 2 growing seasons, survival and height of the pines were significantly less on the grazed seedlings than on either the limited grazing or ungrazed seedlings. Pine heights from the limited grazing and ungrazed treatments were not different during the 3-year study; loblolly pine heights from the limited grazing treatment continued to be taller than the grazed treatment through the third year while the slash pine heights were similar for all treatments by the third year. Seedling mortality became more acute as severity of grazing injury increased; the greatest mortality occured when the terminal bud and needles were both browsed off.     

Prescribed burning and hexazinone herbicide as release treatments in a sapling hardwood-loblolly pine stand

To compare release treatments, a randomized complete block study was established in a 7-year-old hardwood-loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stand in central Louisiana established using chopping and burning. There were 5 blocks of 3 treatments each: (1) check, (2) hexazinone applied once, and (3) prescribed backfiring applied twice. The first burn in December 1985 (7 years after site preparation) had a fire intensity of 90 kJ/s/m. The hexazinone herbicide was applied in April 1986 (the 8th year after site preparation) with a metered spotgun applicator at a rate of 3.0 kg active ingredient/ha. The second burn in March 1989 (the 11th year after site preparation) had a fire intensity of 106 kJ/s/m.The two prescribed burns increased the number of stems less than 1.5 m tall from 1,380 to 2,960/ha red maple (Acer rubrum L.), blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica var. bifora), and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.). Burning reduced the number of loblolly pines less than 2.0 m tall, which resulted in a significant increase in average loblolly pine height and diameter. Loblolly pine comprised 62 and 59% of the basal area on the check and burn treatments, respectively, 11 years after site preparation. Hexazinone reduced the number of blackgum, sweetgum, and oak (Quercus spp.) from 6,100 to 4,560 stems/ha and resulted in significantly less hardwood tree basal area than found on the check or burn treatments. Therefore, the herbicide treatment resulted in principally a loblolly pine stand (over 80% of the total tree basal area was pine) four years after hexazinone application.     

Black polyethylene mulch improves growth of plantation-grown loblolly pine and yellow-poplar

The effects of mulching with perforated black plastic, in combination with fertilization and induced mycorrhizal symbioses, on the growth of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) were studied in a plantation under intensive, short rotation management. Mulching effects on soil temperature were also examined in order to assess the potential influence of this treatment on temperature-dependent processes in soils affecting tree growth. Mulching significantly increased height and stem diameter growth of both species, attributable largely to improved water relations resulting from diminished soil surface evaporation and elimination of transpirational losses from competing vegetation. Mulching effects on soil temperature were insufficient to contribute substantially to the growth response exhibited by mulched trees. Multiple applications of urea-N promoted enhanced growth in both loblolly pine and yellow-poplar, an effect accentuated by mulching, but the field performance of trees inoculated in the nursery with selected mycorrhizal fungi was poor relative to that of the other treatments investigated.     

Pine growth response to management of the subterranean clover understory

Management of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) understory grown with loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) resulted in differences in both clover yield and pine diameter. Loblolly and slash pines were planted into a subterranean clover pasture in 1984. Suppression of warm season herbaceous vegetation by applying herbicides or disking the site in late summer resulted in significantly greater subterranean clover production than on the control site where no additional understory management was applied. Pine species had no effects on clover yield. The N content of the pine foliage on the blocks managed with herbicide application or disking generally was significantly greater than the control from the 5th through 7th growing seasons (1988–1990). The dbh of the pine trees in the disked and herbicide treatments was greater than the control after the 7th growing season (1990).     

Two-year development of southern pine seedlings and associated vegetation following spray-and-burn site preparation with imazapyr alone or in mixture with other herbicides

Eight herbicide combinations containing imazapyr alone or in mixture with glyphosate, triclopyr, or picloram+2,4-D were applied July–August 1991 at each of three upland sites in the southeastern U.S., with or without a subsequent broadcast burn in September. Seedlings of loblolly (Pinus taeda L.) or slash (P. elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) pine were planted that winter. Second-year (August 1993) vegetation responses indicate that broadcast burning, in combination with herbicides, was associated with increased abundances of grasses, forbs, and shrubs and decreased abundances of vines and hardwood trees. In the presence of burning, imazapyr-in-mixture treatments were associated with a high abundance of grass (53% cover) and a mean size of pines less than that of seedlings growing in imazapyr-alone treatments. In the absence of burning, imazapyr-alone treatments were associated with a high abundance of blackberry (21% cover), an average height of hardwoods (131 cm) exceeding that of pines (71 cm), and a mean size of pines less than that of trees growing in imazapyr-in-mixture treatments. Hardwood height in the absence of burning was less when imazapyr was combined with glyphosate (75 cm) than with triclopyr (102 cm). Regardless of the presence or absence of burning, size of pines and abundance of shrubs and hardwoods did not differ between imazapyr rates of 0.56 and 0.84 kg acid equivalent/ha or among herbicides applied in mixture with imazapyr.     

湿地松样本量大小对性状遗传力估算的影响

[目的]在保证遗传力估算精确度较高的前提下,探讨对已有湿地松测定群体遗传力评估最经济有效的调查取样数量(样本量),为遗传选择提供最佳的遗传参数和选择策略。[方法]以61个湿地松22年生半同胞家系的胸径、树高等生长性状和木材基本密度、弹性模量等材性性状测定值为试验数据,利用ASReml-R软件混合线性模型的限制性极大似然估计法(REML)估算各性状在不同参试样本量下的遗传力及其标准误。通过比较分析在不同样本量下各性状遗传力及其标准误估算值的收敛性,讨论样本量对性状遗传力估算的影响,进而确定各性状遗传力评估所需的最少样本量。[结果]对于61个湿地松自由授粉家系测定林,当测定的家系数少于39个或者随机测量的单株数小于600株时,估算的遗传力极不稳定,标准误偏大,随着样本容量或家系容量的增加其精度与准确性逐渐增加;遗传力较低的性状其遗传力估计所需样本量普遍大于遗传力较高的性状。[结论]对本研究的测定群体而言,要获得精确度较高的遗传力估算值,所需测定的湿地松家系数应该大于39个或者随机测量的单株数大于600株;由于材性性状遗传力相对较高,其需要测定的样本量可相对少一些。本文为大型用材树种遗传力估算提供了一个具有参考价值的实例研究,结果及相应的研究方法对于类似遗传测定群体遗传参数估算具有参考意义。     

14年生火炬松优良家系选择

在福建省漳平五一国有林场,对美国引进的火炬松第1代种子园25个家系试验林进行测定,以湿地松、马尾松为对照。结果表明:火炬松早期生长较易感染松针褐斑病,保存率较低;14年生火炬松家系总体生长优于湿地松、低于马尾松;各家系在树高、胸径和材积等性状上有着显著差异;综合各性状共选择出4个优良家系(21、9、18、13号),14年生树高、胸径和单株材积的平均值分别为12.6 m、20.4 cm、0.1981 m3,比湿地松增长9.2%、25.9%、71.1%,遗传增益达8.9%、24.7%、67.9%。     

Agroforestry: southern pines and subterranean clover cultural treatments

Agroforestry research in central Louisiana, USA, examined the effects of agronomic cultural treatments (disk, chemical, hay, and hay-graze) on subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) yields and slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) and loblolly pine (P. taeda L.) survival and growth. Cultural treatments appear necessary for successful production of subterranean clover in tame pastures, especially for early fall forage growth. Subterranean clover yields in volunteer swards during spring were highest on the disk and chemical treatments. Generally, pine survival and growth during the first 5 years following tree establishment were not affected by cultural treatments.     

Comparing morphology and physiology of southeastern US <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus</Emphasis> seedlings: implications for adaptation to surface fire regimes

Key message

The suite of traits expressed as seedlings by coastal and mountain longleaf pine and south Florida slash pine suggest they can survive fire in the seedling stage. In contrast, loblolly pine and typical slash pine tolerate fire when mature but do not exhibit traits that allow them to survive fire when young, representing a different strategy for survival in frequently burned communities.

Context

Fire is an important driver in the distribution and abundance of southern US pine species, and seedling fire tolerance often determines individual survival under frequent fire regimes.

Aims

We investigated seedling growth, biomass allocation, needle distribution, bark thickness, and total non-structural carbohydrate (TNC) storage in taproots and related them to the expression of fire-tolerance for five species or types, including loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), two longleaf pine (P. palustris Mill.) types representing two distinct ecological communities (coastal and mountain) and two slash pine (P. elliottii Englem.) varieties.

Methods

We analyzed the relationship of seedling growth, biomass characteristics, and total non-structural carbohydrate storage between species by using analysis of variance.

Results

Both coastal and mountain longleaf pines had thick bark, long, densely arranged needles, and a grass-stage. South Florida slash pine shared the same suite of traits but, contrary to previous reports, displayed reduced height growth rather than a grass-stage. In contrast, loblolly pine and typical slash pine had faster height growth, more branching, lower needle density, and thinner bark. Both longleaf pines and south Florida slash pine also had higher TNC storage in taproots than either loblolly or typical slash pines.

Conclusion

The relative strength of expression of these fire-adaptation traits among the five species types generally matches the fire-return intervals associated with each species’ habitat, suggesting the importance of fire regimes in determining the distribution and abundance of the studied species.

     

Compatible stem volume and taper equations for Brutian pine, Cedar of Lebanon, and Cilicica fir in Turkey

Compatible segmented taper and volume functions were developed for Brutian pine, Cedar of Lebanon, and Cilicica fir in Turkey. The proposed models generally performed better for the whole tree, especially for Cilicica fir. Average diameter prediction error was less than 2.2 cm and average volume error was less than 0.009 m³. The proposed models provide needed merchantable stem volume and diameter estimates to any point in the bole based on the 10 relative height classes examined for the three species. Model estimates compared well to existing volume tables currently employed for these three important commercial species.     

Okra production with pine straw mulch

Conventional planted okra in Booneville, Arkansas and Lorman, Mississippi were mulched with loblolly pine straw (Pinus taeda L.) and longleaf pine straw (P. palustris Mill.), respectively, at a rate of 11 t/ha or left bare. At Booneville, plant stand, season yields (18.6 t/ha), pod weight (16.3 g), plant dry weight (2.3 kg), or stem diameter (3.5 cm) were not affected by the loblolly pine mulch. However, mulch application increased pod number (1.22 vs. 1.06×10⁶/ha) and plant height (1.5 vs. 1.6 m), while reducing weed competition (0.05 vs. 0.40 t/ha) and visible plant stress, during periods of soil moisture deficits. Soil temperatures at 5 and 15 cm depth were reduced by mulch until mid-August when plant canopies covered the rows. Seasonal moisture at 30 and 45 cm depths was similar between mulched and bare soils, based upon unreplicated neutron probe measurements. At Lorman, season okra yield (29.8 vs. 24.6 t/ha), number of pods per ha (1.24 vs. 1.07×10⁶) and weed competition were reduced and soil pH lowered 0.56 units by longleaf pine straw mulch. Mulch reduced early season yield at both locations.     

细菌肥料对湿地松幼龄林生长及土壤性质的影响

[目的]通过研究细菌肥料对湿地松幼龄林生长及对土壤养分、微生物群落功能多样性和酶活性的影响,为细菌肥料对湿地松土壤改良的应用提供参考,以期在促进湿地松生长及改良土壤的同时保持良好的生态环境。[方法]2016年7月在江西省分宜县山下林场采用随机区组设计,设置3个区组,3个处理,分别为细菌肥料处理、基质对照处理及不添加任何肥料的空白对照处理。2017年11月测量湿地松的株高和地径,采用5点取样法采集土壤样品,测定土壤密度、毛管孔隙度、非毛管孔隙度、最大持水量、有机质、有效磷、速效钾、水解性氮以及过氧化氢酶、磷酸酶、蔗糖酶和脲酶活性,用Biolog-ECO板分析微生物群落功能多样性。[结果]细菌肥料显著促进了湿地松幼苗株高和地径的增长,空白对照、基质对照处理和细菌肥料处理地径的相对增长量分别为98.27%、105.53%和123.09%,株高的相对增长量分别为55.69%、66.56%和85.18%,细菌肥料处理和基质对照处理均降低了土壤密度,增加了土壤毛管孔隙度、非毛管孔隙度以及最大持水量,改善了土壤物理性质,但细菌肥料处理的作用更显著。细菌肥料和基质对照均提高了湿地松土壤的有机质、有效磷、水解性氮以及速效钾含量,但细菌肥料处理与空白对照处理之间在4种养分含量上均存在显著性差异,而基质对照与空白对照之间只在有机质含量上存在显著性差异。细菌肥料处理显著提高了土壤磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶、蔗糖酶以及脲酶活性,细菌肥料还使土壤微生物群落代谢活性、对6类碳源(碳水化合物类、氨基酸类、羧酸类、多聚物类、酚酸类和胺类)的利用能力以及土壤微生物群落的Shannon多样性指数(H)、Simpson优势度指数(D)、Pielou均匀度指数(J)和丰富度指数(S)显著提高,基质对照也促进了上述指标的升高,但效果并不显著。[结论]细菌肥料处理和基质对照处理均可以促进湿地松幼苗的生长,提高湿地松土壤有机质、有效磷、速效钾以及水解性氮的含量,同时使土壤过氧化氢酶、磷酸酶、蔗糖酶以及脲酶活性升高,提高土壤微生物多样性、均匀度、丰富度以及优势度指数,提高了微生物对单一碳源的利用能力以及代谢活性,但细菌肥料的作用效果更为显著,基质对照的作用效果并不显著。     

A comparison of needle retention on Japanese black pine and Japanese red pine

Needle retention (number of needle sets), needle density, height increment and radial increment were surveyed on seven Japanese black pines (Pinus thunbergii Parl.) and seven Japanese red pines (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.) growing on the same site. Number of needle sets on branches with respect to whorl position was estimated visually. In 1999, maximum summer needle retention was observed on the fifth and sixth whorl from the top, with values of 3.4 needle sets for the black pines and 2.4 needle sets for the red pines, respectively. The needle trace method (NTM) was used to determine needle retention and needle density along the main stems retrospectively for the years 1968–1998. The long-term mean summer needle retention along the main stem was 3.7 needle sets for the black pines and 2.2 needle sets for the red pines. In both pine species, the number of needle sets varied from year to year. However, the long-term budget between newly born and annually shed needle sets was in equilibrium. The long-term average of needle density per cm of stem shoot was 9.4 needle pairs for the black pines and 7.4 needle pairs for the red pines. The results showed clear intra-specific and inter-specific similarities in needle retention, height increment and radial increment trends. The values for number of needle sets, height increment and radial increment positively increased with favorable growing conditions, whereas the value of needle density had an opposite tendency.