Abstract
Quantifying the effects of environmental variables on radial growth has real significance for reasonably predicting the impacts of environmental changes on tree dynamics. This study used Picea crassifolia, a widely distributed dominant evergreen coniferous tree species found on the north-eastern fringe of the Tibetan Plateau, as a case study to analyse the associations of radial growth with environmental variables during 1960–2018 using a correlation analysis and sliding correlation analysis. The responses of radial growth to different moisture conditions were further quantitatively evaluated through the generalised linear model and relative dominance analysis. The results show that the radial growth of P. crassifolia is mainly influenced by moisture conditions in the study area. Specifically, the response times of P. crassifolia radial growth to soil moisture and precipitation differ, as radial growth has a significant positive correlation with precipitation in the early growth period. Notably, radial growth has a remarkable and stable correlation with soil moisture in the autumn and winter seasons of the previous year. This study provides a theoretical foundation and scientific grounds for analysing the response of Tibetan Plateau forests to climate change and can act as a reference for future research on the response of radial growth to soil moisture in alpine regions.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
