The influence of stand density on growth of three conifer species

We evaluated the influence of stand density on the growth and development of monoculture plantations of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), larch (Larix sibirica) and Norway spruce (Picea abies; = Picea obovata Ledeb.). The planting density ranged from 500 to 128,000 trees/ha. After 22 years, tree height was not affected by density, though the height of pine and larch (8 m) was greater than spruce (6 m). Diameter declined exponentially with increasing density, but the slope was too low to offset the contribution of more trees to the stand total basal area and stem volume. Basal area and stem volume per hectare were greatest at the most extreme density for all three species, refuting ideas of "stagnation" at high density.