Leaf area duration in natural range and exotic Pinus taeda

Abstract

Exotic Pinus taeda L. plantations may be more productive than native ones. Several hypotheses may explain this difference; however, process models with a light-interception-driving variable cannot test these hypotheses without foliage display first being quantified in native and exotic trees. We quantified leaf area duration in North Carolina, USA (natural), and Gobernador Virasoro, Argentina (exotic), with no additional nutrients and optimum fertilizer treatments. More (60%–100%) foliage was displayed but for a shorter (∼86 fewer days) time per fascicle in the exotics than in the naturals. Study inference was limited, with only one native and one exotic site. However, while the sites were markedly different in soils, climate, resource availability, and genetics, and we observed significant differences in fascicle display and longevity, most fascicles at both sites survived two growing seasons: the one in which they were produced and the subsequent one. This robust finding indicates it would be reasonable to use two growing seasons for fascicle longevity in process modeling to test hypotheses explaining growth differences in native and exotic loblolly. Fertilization had no effect on any exotic tree parameter, but it increased natural tree fascicle number (24%) and length (30%).