%0 Articles
%T Growth rhythm, height growth and survival of Russian larch (<i>Larix</i> Mill.) provenances in greenhouse and field conditions in Finland
%A Lukkarinen, Antti
%D 2013
%J Dissertationes Forestales
%V 2013
%N 160
%R doi:10.14214/df.160
%U http://dissertationesforestales.fi/article/1944
%X The aim of this study was to analyse the growth rhythm, height growth and survival of seedlings of 20 Russian larch (<em>Larix</em> Mill.) provenances and five comparison entries in sowing year in greenhouse conditions and in field conditions in southern (Punkaharju 61°49′N, 29°19′E) and northern (Kivalo 66°19′N, 26°38′E) Finland after third and fourth growing seasons. Geographic and climatic conditions of the origins were used to explain the differences between the provenances. In the sowing year in greenhouse, latitude explained 74% of the length of the growing period. In the field in Punkaharju, the northern Siberian larches (<em>Larix sibirica</em> Ledeb.) had the earliest bud burst and the Dahurian larch (<em>Larix gmelinii</em> Rupr.) provenances slightly earlier onset of height growth. The temperature sum and latitude of the provenances explained the differences in shoot elongation. After four growing seasons in the field northern provenances had the best survival and height growth in Kivalo. Survival did not differ significantly between provenances in Punkaharju field experiment. The southern Dahurian larches had a superior height growth in Punkaharju and they had least mammal damages. In Punkaharju, the growth cessation was affected by photoperiod and possibly by declining temperatures in autumn. Provenances from cold northern climates developed their terminal buds first. They also formed autumn colouring and shed their needles earlier than more southern provenances. Dahurian larches showed potential in height growth and ability to utilize the length of the growing season effectively in Punkaharju. They also seemed to have, on average, smaller amount of mammal damages. Despite this, the currently used Siberian larch of Raivola origin is still the safest choice for larch forestry in whole Finland in terms of adaptation to climate. Further studies are needed still on the potential offered by different species and provenances (and their hybrids) to generalize the findings of this work.