Intra-annual stem growth dynamics of Lebanon Cedar along climatic gradients

Published Date
April 2017, Volume 31, Issue 2, pp 587–606

Author

• Aylin GüneyEmail author
• Manfred Küppers
• Cyrille Rathgeber
• Melahat Şahin
• Reiner Zimmermann

1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.

Original Article

First Online: 

17 November 2016

DOI: 10.1007/s00468-016-1492-4

Cite this article as:

Güney, A., Küppers, M., Rathgeber, C. et al. Trees (2017) 31: 587. doi:10.1007/s00468-016-1492-4

Abstract

Key message

Onset of cambial activity in Lebanon Cedar is triggered by stem temperature but may be delayed by high site-LAI. Higher growth rates and tree-ring widths were observed under better water and light availability. Daily stem radius variations were sensitive to humid conditions.

Abstract

Studies on intra-annual dynamics of stem growth provide useful information on tree growth responses to environmental conditions, but are fragmentary for species from Mediterranean Mountain ranges. Lebanon Cedar is a frost and drought tolerant species, growing between 1000 and 2000 m a.s.l in the Taurus Mountains (Turkey). Foresters see it as a potential candidate for plantation in Central European forests facing global warming. To describe the natural variability of Lebanon Cedar growth dynamics, five study sites were established: four along an altitudinal gradient at a natural site in SW-Turkey and one in a Lebanon Cedar plantation in Central Germany. Two stem growth monitoring methods were used: (1) bi-weekly microcoring during 2013 growing season and (2) point dendrometers during 2013 and 2014. Histological analyses were used to calibrate dendrometer records and to describe cambium phenology. Seasonal dynamics of xylem and stem radial increments were modelled by Gompertz functions. Onset of cambial activity was observed 1–2 weeks after stem temperatures reached a threshold of 5 °C but could be delayed by high site-LAI. Cedars growing under better light and water availability showed higher growth rates and wider tree rings. Daily stem radius variations (dSRV) extracted from dendrometer records were negatively related to vapor pressure deficit and global radiation; multiple linear regressions explained 30–52% of dSRV variance being dominated by relative humidity, precipitation, and soil water content. Best growth performance was observed at the German site, likely for a continuous water supply throughout the year, underlining the potential of Lebanon Cedar for Central European Forestry.

Keywords

Lebanon Cedar Point dendrometer Microcoring Cambial activity Tree-ring formation Microclimate 

Abbreviations

A

Final annual tree-ring width

bE

Onset of the enlarging phase

bL

Onset of the cell-wall lignification phase

bM

Onset of the mature phase

CA

Cambial activity

cE

Cessation of the enlarging phase

cL

Cessation of the cell-wall lignification phase

CRF

Cedar Research Forest

d

Time required for major period of tree-ring formation

dE

Duration of the enlarging phase

dL

Duration of the lignification phase

DOY

Day of year

dSRV

Daily stem radius variation

dX

Duration of xylogenesis

EBG

Ecological Botanical Gardens

gR

Global radiation

LAI

Leaf area index

MAT

Mean annual air temperature

Pp

Precipitation

r

Mean tree-ring formation rate (during growth period)

rH

Relative air humidity

RSI

Radial stem increase

ST

Stem temperature

SWC

Soil water content

Ta

Air temperature (Tamean: daily mean, Tamax: daily maximum, and Tamin: daily minimum)

TAP

Total annual precipitation

tp

Time of inflection point

Ts

Soil temperature

VPD

Vapor pressure deficit

Communicated by E. Liang.

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