FOLIAGE AND CANOPY CHARACTERISTICS IN RELATION TO ABOVEGROUND DRY-MATTER INCREMENT OF 7 JACK PINE PROVENANCES

This paper reports on foliage and tree size data collected in 1984 in an Ontario [Canada] Pinus banksiana Lamb. (jack pine) provenance trial established in 1954 at the Petawawa National Forestry Institute, Chalk River, Ont. The ratio of total needle area to needle dry weight of seven provenances showed a substantial within-tree, between-tree, and between-provenance variation that was associated with position within the tree and the average provenance tree size. Provenance mean values ranged from 11.7 to 14.3 m2/kg. The highest values were found in the tallest trees. Tree size and dry matter content varied significantly among provenances, but the relative growth rates of stem volume and aboveground biomass between the ages of 29 and 34 years averaged 5.7 and 4.9% per year in all provenances respectively. Aboveground dry matter production per hectare per year increased linearly with increasing projected leaf area index. The average increase was 1.9 t dry matter per 1 m2 increase in the leaf area index. Projected leaf area indices for optimally stocked stands averaged 5.0 m2/m2. The results indicated an almost constant net assimilation rate of 1.9 g aboveground dry matter per square decimetre of projected foliage per year in all provenances. Canopy foliage area was strongly correlated with basal area at 1.3 m and stem cross-sectional area at the base of the live crown. Total foliage area per unit basal area averaged 0.31 m2/cm2 at breast height and 0.70 m2/cm2 in the live crown. No significant differences were found between provenances.