Growth losses from winter drying (red belt damage) in lodgepole pine stands on the east slopes of the Rockies in Alberta

Abstract

Red belt damage (reddening and death of foliage) occurs frequently in lodgepole pine Pinuscontorta var. latifolia Engelm. stands between certain elevations and may affect tree growth and even cause mortality. We examined growth impact in four pine stands (10, 55, 90, and 115 years old) where nearly all trees showed symptoms of damage. On young trees, visible damage ranged from 0 to 80% of foliage, and averaged about 35%. A highly significant reduction in height growth and terminal bud length (p < 0.01) of young trees was proportional to the amount of damage. As much as two-thirds growth loss occurred in trees with 60% or more necrotized foliage. On intermediate and mature lodgepole pine, reduction of annual volume increment in the growing season following damage was variable and reached as high as 50%, with no further significant reduction occurring in subsequent years. Potential yield losses at rotation age and forest management prescriptions for susceptible stands are presented.