Effects of Competition by Neighboring Trees on Growth of Planted Trees in Japanese Cedar (<i>Cryptomeria japonica</i>) and Hinoki Cypress (<i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i>) Plantations in Shikoku, Japan.

Miyamoto Kazuki, Sakai Atsushi, Otani Tatsuya, Matsuoka Masayuki, Yamasaki Toshihiko

doi:10.4005/jjfs.97.171

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四国地方の高齢級スギ・ヒノキ人工林における個体間競争が植栽木の成長に及ぼす影響
シコクチホウノコウレイキュウスギ・ヒノキジンコウリンニオケルコタイカンキョウソウガショクサイモクノセイチョウニオヨボスエイキョウ

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The effect of competitive neighboring trees on diameter growth of a focal tree was examined to provide an indicator for individual tree management in 44- to 91-year-old Japanese cedar and Hinoki cypress plantations in Shikoku, Japan. Mean growth rate of tree diameter at breast height (DBH) ranged from 0.30 to 0.39 cm yr^-1. The DBH size at the beginning of the census period did not sufficiently account for the variation of DBH growth in Hinoki cypress stands compared to that in Japanese cedar stands. We employed competition indices based on sum of basal areas of neighboring trees within varying distances from a focal tree. The improvement of linear statistical model for prediction of tree diameter growth by adding competition indices as an explanation variable varied with the type of competition indices. In the 44- to 50-year-old overcrowded stands, one-sided competition, in which the growth of the focal tree was influenced only by larger neighboring trees, was prominent. However, in the 65- to 75-year-old stands, two-sided competition, in which the growth of the focal tree was influenced by all neighboring trees, had significant effects. These results suggest that tree positioning, paying attention to neighborhood competition, is crucial in management of old-aged plantations.

Journal

Journal of the Japanese Forest Society

Journal of the Japanese Forest Society 97 (4), 171-181, 2015

THE JAPANESE FORESTRY SOCIETY

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