Articles
CHOICE OF CONIFER PLANT MATERIAL FOR SOUTH WEST GREENLAND
Article number
615_28
Pages
273 – 279
Language
English
Abstract
The first experiences of growing conifers in Greenland are reported.
At the interior fjords of SW Greenland around 61°N, away from the more or less ice-filled outer coasts, the average temperature for July is >10°C and the heat sum for the growing season (threshold 5°C) is >600 degree-days.
However, the natural vegetation indicates a potential for the occurrence of a subarctic-subalpine conifer tree-line.
Furthermore, small scale planting trials since 1953 have resulted in groups of 7-9 m tall Larix sibirica (from Krasnoyarsk and Ural provenances), 4-7 m tall groups of Picea abies as well as Pinus sylvestris (northern Scandinavia) and Picea glauca and P. glauca x P. sitchensis (Picea x lutzii) (coastal southern Alaska). On this basis, the Greenland Arboretum at Narssarssuaq International Airport has been developed.
It was started in 1976 within a 200 ha area.
It is developing into a representation of primarily tree-line forming species and provenances from circumpolar regions.
Until now, Russian material has been raised from seed whereas Fennoscandian and North American material has mostly been collected as seedlings.
At present, 100,000 trees have been planted, 95% of which are conifers.
Of the 450 provenances represented, 257 are conifers.
To secure a common character and quality of the landscape, 50,000 seedlings of Larix sibirica var. sukaczewii (from seven provenances) have been planted in a mosaic with the natural scrub.
The results show that for large scale planting in SW Greenland Larix sibirica var. sukaczewii is the best choice, followed by successful provenances of Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, P. glauca and its hybrids with P. engelmannii and P. sitchensis, Pinus cembra var. sibirica, Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris. Like other arboreta, the collections serve scientific, educational and amenity purposes.
At the interior fjords of SW Greenland around 61°N, away from the more or less ice-filled outer coasts, the average temperature for July is >10°C and the heat sum for the growing season (threshold 5°C) is >600 degree-days.
However, the natural vegetation indicates a potential for the occurrence of a subarctic-subalpine conifer tree-line.
Furthermore, small scale planting trials since 1953 have resulted in groups of 7-9 m tall Larix sibirica (from Krasnoyarsk and Ural provenances), 4-7 m tall groups of Picea abies as well as Pinus sylvestris (northern Scandinavia) and Picea glauca and P. glauca x P. sitchensis (Picea x lutzii) (coastal southern Alaska). On this basis, the Greenland Arboretum at Narssarssuaq International Airport has been developed.
It was started in 1976 within a 200 ha area.
It is developing into a representation of primarily tree-line forming species and provenances from circumpolar regions.
Until now, Russian material has been raised from seed whereas Fennoscandian and North American material has mostly been collected as seedlings.
At present, 100,000 trees have been planted, 95% of which are conifers.
Of the 450 provenances represented, 257 are conifers.
To secure a common character and quality of the landscape, 50,000 seedlings of Larix sibirica var. sukaczewii (from seven provenances) have been planted in a mosaic with the natural scrub.
The results show that for large scale planting in SW Greenland Larix sibirica var. sukaczewii is the best choice, followed by successful provenances of Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, P. glauca and its hybrids with P. engelmannii and P. sitchensis, Pinus cembra var. sibirica, Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris. Like other arboreta, the collections serve scientific, educational and amenity purposes.
Publication
Authors
S. Ødum †
Keywords
Abies, Larix, Picea, Pinus, planting, provenance, tree-line
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