Effect of site altitude on the growth and survival of Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) provenances on the Slovak plots of IUFRO experiment 1972

Abstract

The growth, survival, damage and provenance × environment interactions of 30 provenances of Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) from Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, were analyzed at the age of 26 years. Significant effects of altitude and site quality but no geographic trends were dectected in the series of 5 provenance plots. Correlation of growth and survival appeared to be insignificant at individual plots and their series. The highest differentiation among provenances was revealed on the plots at the minimum and maximum altitudes (350 and 950 m). Several Slovak (Western-Carpathian) provenances proved to grow significantly better than the average at nearly all plots, and also exhibited insignificant provenance × site interaction. Indigenous provenances from the southern part of the Western Carpathians showed higher adaptability to sites in lower altitudes with longer vegetation but seasonal water deficiency.