Growth pattern analysis of major coniferous tree species in South Korea

ABSTRACTThe size growth patterns of major coniferous trees species Pinus densiflora (Pd), Pinus koraiensis (Pk), and Larix kaempferi (Lk) in South Korea were found and compared using stem analysis. A dominant or co-dominant tree selected from each of 131 sites (39 sites for Pd, 47 sites for Pk, and 45 sites for Lk) was stemmed and analyzed for the study. Total increment (TI), periodic annual increments (PAI), mean annual increments (MAI), and growth percentage of diameter at breast height (DBH), height, and volume were numerically and statistically compared among the three tree species. As the trees age the total DBH growths of Pk and Lk were similar to each other but higher than that of Pd. A noticeable difference of total height growth was shown among the trees and the total height increment was Lk > Pk > Pd. Like the total height growth, the volume difference was noticeably different among the trees and the growth was Lk > Pk > Pd. Given no difference of DBH between Lk and Pk, the volume difference bet...