title: Growth responses of Scots pine to climatic factors on reclaimed oil shale mined land.
abstract: Afforestation on reclaimed mining areas has high ecological and economic importance. However, ecosystems established on post-mining substrate can become vulnerable due to climate variability. We used tree-ring data and dendrochronological techniques to study the relationship between climate variables and annual growth of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing on reclaimed open cast oil shale mining areas in Northeast Estonia. Chronologies for trees of different age classes (50, 40, 30) were developed. Pearson's correlation analysis between radial growth indices and monthly climate variables revealed that precipitation in June-July and higher mean temperatures in spring season enhanced radial growth of pine plantations, while higher than average temperatures in summer months inhibited wood production. Sensitivity of radial increment to climatic factors on post-mining soils was not homogenous among the studied populations. Older trees growing on more developed soils were more sensitive to precipitation deficit in summer, while growth indices of two other stand groups (young and middle-aged) were highly correlated to temperature. High mean temperatures in August were negatively related to annual wood production in all trees, while trees in the youngest stands benefited from warmer temperatures in January. As a response to thinning, mean annual basal area increment increased up to 50 %. By managing tree competition in the closed-canopy stands, through the thinning activities, tree sensitivity and response to climate could be manipulated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest Management, Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51014, Tartu, Estonia. Sandra.Metslaid@emu.ee.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7088-8998
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Metslaid
authors.affiliation: Center for Forest Disturbance Science, USDA Forest Service, 320 Green Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stanturf
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest Management, Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51014, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Maris
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hordo
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest Management, Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51014, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Henn
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Korjus
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest Management, Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51014, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laarmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest Management, Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51014, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiviste
mesh_terms: D002980:Climate; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D004957:Estonia; D008906:Mining; D009821:Oils; D041605:Pinus sylvestris / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D012621:Seasons; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D014197:Trees / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D014934:Wood / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D009821:Oils; D012987:Soil
keywords: Afforestation; Forest management; Post-mining area; Reclamation; Scots pine; Tree-ring