A clear climatic signal of precipitation and temperature in growth of Scots pine young trees in habitats homogenous in relief, soil and access to light.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of our study was to arrange the monthly temperature and precipitation in order of importance for the growth of Scots pine young trees. Model 25-year-old 405 individuals were selected in 27 forested former agricultural lands. Annual tree height increment in 2009-2013, a period with contrasting amounts of summer precipitation, was measured.

RESULTS

In all the trial plots, we found statistically significant synchronous dynamics between annual growth and monthly precipitation of the previous October and current March. Precipitation in August (significant correlation was in 96.3% of habitats), May (92.6%), July (81.5%), previous November (77.7%), and current June (74.1%) was also important for the increments. The temperature of April and September had a critical importance for plants in all habitats. Previous November and December (the correlation was significant at 81.5% of samples), March (77.8%) were also very important. Temperatures of all other months had a more site-specific effect on the growth of trees or did not affect it.

CONCLUSIONS

The results obtained made it possible to quantify monthly climate signals in the Pinus sylvestris growth and may be useful in predicting the impact of climate change on the species.