Drainage Effect on Growth and Wood Quality of Some Bog Grown Trees in Alberta

Abstract

Growth rate, wood relative density and tracheid length variation were examined for three species: black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.), white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), and tamarack (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch), from two drained wetland sites of north-central Alberta. Increased rates in radial and volume growths were noted for tamarack, white spruce and to a lesser extent, black spruce. The increases were particularly remarkable in younger trees. Accompanying the rapid growth, wood relative density and tracheid length tend to decrease after drainage, at least for a period of several years. In certain trees, the marked decreases in wood relative density might affect the end use of the trees. Key words: drainage, radial growth, volume growth, wood relative density, tracheid length.