Comparison of stem volume of Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) and Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

Abstract

This study deals with mensurational and volumetric characteristics of introduced Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) in comparison with native Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) of the similar age and habitat. Municipal forests of Hradec Králové city (an area with the natural occurrence of Scotch pine and introduced Eastern white pine; east part of Bohemia, altitude from 250 to 280 m a.s.l.) belong to typological unit – nutrient-very poor, and acidic sites. There comparative analysis of basic stem variables (stem diameter at the breast-height – DBH, total tree height – H and stem volume – V) of dominant trees (10 individuals with the highest DBH of both species) in four suitable forest stands of age from 42 to 102 years was done. Statistical analysis showed similar trends in all forests stands. Eastern white pine compared to Scotch pine reached larger mean DBH (up to 16%). H – values do not have a clear trend across the forest stands and did not show large differences in all cases. Eastern white pine compared to Scotch pine showed also larger mean stem volume (up to 47%). Therefore, introduced Eastern white pine reached higher stem size parameters and wood production compared to native Scotch pine in studied forest district.

Keywords

• Eastern white pine
• Scotch pine
• stem volume
• <i>Pinus strobus</i>
• <i>Pinus sylvestris</i>