Net primary production of Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) in western Scotland.
Abstract
The dry-weight increment of A. pseudoplatanus seedlings, initially 60-90 cm. high, was measured by growth analysis. Seedlings were planted out 90 cm. apart, sprayed with 0.1 % Rogor insecticide, and sampled monthly throughout one growing season. A second, similar experiment was made in the following year as a control to verify the absence of any effect of the insecticide on growth. Growth depended on the weight before bud-burst, seedlings individually utilizing different periods of the total growing season available to the population as a whole. Growth analysis showed that the highest relative growth rate occurred in July, and confirmed the dependence of leaf and shoot development on stored material. Comparison of annual dry-matter production with other data suggests that A. pseudoplatanus could, on better sites, be as productive as plantations of Pinus sylvestris.KEYWORDS: Acer pseudoplatanus production, biological \ Production, biological \ Production, biological variation, seasonal