Abstract:

The initial stand density of 12-year-old masson pine (Pinus massoniana) was used to study effects and interaction of initial stand density and provenances on growth, stem-form qualities and wood basic density. The results indicated that effects of initial stand density varied considerably on different provenances and traits. DBH and height under living branch were most sensitive to initial stand density, height was next, and stem straightness and wood basic density had little response. The four provenances of Cenxi Guangxi, Xinyi Guangdong, Chongyi Jiangxi and Wuping Fujian had sensitive DBH to initial stand density and grew best under the initial stand density of 2.5 m×2.0 m. Effect of initial stand density on DBH of Gaozhou Guangdong was not remarkable. There were significantly different responses in height under living branch to the initial stand density among all provenances, and increasing initial stand density resulted in an increase in height under living branch. Initial stand density had little influence on stem straightness and wood basic density except for stem straightness of Chongyi Jiangxi and wood basic density of Wuping Fujian. There were no significant differences in effect of initial stand density on DBH, height under living branch, stem straightness and wood basic density between different provenances. Only there existed significant difference in heights in the initial stand density of 1.5 m×2.0 m and 2.5 m×2.0 m between provenances. Interaction of provenances and initial stand density was not found on growth, stem-form quality and wood basic density, and initial stand density did not affect their relative growth performance. However, the interaction of block×provenance×spacing was so significant that optimal site should be given for different provenances in a given initial stand density.

Key words: Pinus massoniana, provenance, initial stand density, growth, stem-form qualities, wood basic density, interaction