Comparison of growth and physiology of layers and naturally established seedlings of black spruce in a boreal cutover in Quebec

Abstract

Growth and physiology of layers versus naturally established seedlings of boreal black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) were compared 15 years after a cutover in Quebec. During the first 8 years, height growth of seedlings was greater than that of layers, averaging 10.4 and 7.0 cm/year, respectively. For the last 5 years, annual height growth of layers and seedlings did not differ (25 cm/year; p > 0.05). Over the entire 15-year period, total height growth of seedlings (251 cm) was greater than that of layers (220 cm), although total height did not differ (p > 0.05) over the last 6 years. During the 15th growing season, there were no differences (p > 0.05) for predawn shoot water potential, stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis, intercellular to ambient CO2 ratio, water use efficiency, and hydraulic conductance between layers and seedlings. For diurnal shoot water potential, seedlings showed slightly less stress than layers on two of the four sampling dates. Thus, in the first few years following the cutover, the slower growth observed for layers indicated that they had a longer acclimation period following the cutover. Afterwards, similar height growth, total height, and physiological characteristics of the two regeneration types indicated that layers can perform as well as naturally established seedlings.