proportion of knotty wood in stems of 28-year old lodgepole and scots pine in experimental plantation in zvirgzde, latvia

In forestry, alien tree species are planted to maximize yield from a stand by increasing productivity and decreasing environmental risks. In Eastern Europe, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) might be used as a source of biomass and industrial wood; however, before any recommendations are given, possible gains of the novel species should be scrupulously evaluated. In this study, we compared volume and proportion of knotty stemwood (VKN) of native Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) from first generation seed orchards and provenances of alien lodgepole pine [Fort Nelson (58°38’ N, 122°41’ W) and Summit Lake (54°24› N, 122°37› W)] at the age of 27 years growing in central Latvia. We also assessed the relationships between VKN and several morphometric parameters.