Tree Improvement Program Project Report 2006 / 2007

2
Table 1: Mean pollen load (regional) T R E E I M P R O V E M E N T P R O G R A M
for western hemlock and Sitka spruce,
expressed as grains/mm2 Table 2: Mean pollen load (regional)
for western hemlock and Sitka spruce,
expressed as grains/mm
, for a 6 week
monitoring period (2005 and 2006).
2 Table 3: Mean pollen load (orchard)
for western hemlock and Sitka spruce,
, for the expressed as grains/mm
receptivity period of orchards 170 and
172, respectively (2005 and 2006).
2 , for the
receptivity period of orchards 170 and
172, respectively (2005 and 2006).
6 Week Pollen Capture
Pollen Load (grains/mm 2 )
2005 2006
Hw 9.2 1.9
Ss 1.6 0.8
Table 17. Mean pollen load
(reg onal) for western hemlock
and S tka spruce, expressed
as gra ns/mm 2 , for a 6 week
mon tor ng per od (220 and
2006).
Pollen Load (grains/mm 2 )
2005 2006
Hw 1.3 1.0
Ss 0.3 0.7
Table 1 . Mean pollen load
(reg onal) for western hemlock
Table and S4: tka Estimates spruce, expressed of % contamination as
for Western Forest Products western
gra ns/mm
hemlock orchard (170) and Sitka spruce
orchard (172) based on the ratio of
regional counts to orchard counts for
the receptivity periods in each of 2005
and 2006.
2 , for the recept v ty
per od of orchards 170 and 172,
respect vely (200 and 2006).
Estimated Level of % Contamination
2005 2006
Hw 18.6 16.7
Ss 30.0 38.9
.2.11 Enhanc ng Lower Crown V gour
and Cone Product on n Mature
Lodgepole P ne Seed Orchards
Joe Webber and M chael Stoehr
Introduct on
Over the past few years, cone production in larger
lodgepole pine seed orchard trees has dropped. This is
largely due to fewer cones being produced in the mid to
lower crown where we suspect lower shoot vigour is not
supporting seed cone production. Furthermore, the growth
demands of lower crown shoots (especially where shaded)
may also be drawing valuable resources for optimal cone
development in the upper crown as well. One opportunity
to increase coning response is by topping (see OTIP 0720),
which brings more light and nutrients to the lower crown.
However, associated with topping is lower cone production
for three to five years. It may also be possible to reinvigorate
lower crowns by fertilizer treatments.
Table 20. Est mates of %
contam nat on of Western Forest
Products western hemlock orchard
(170) and S tka spruce orchard (172)
based on the rat o of reg onal counts
to orchard counts for the recept v ty
per ods n each of 200 and 2006).
P R O J E C T R E P O R T 2 0 0 6 / 2 0 0 7
WFP Receptivity Period (Orchard 1)
Pollen Load (grains/mm 2 )
2005 2006
Hw 7.0 6.0
Ss 1.0 1.8
Table 19. Mean pollen load
(orchard) for western hemlock and
S tka spruce, expressed as gra ns/
mm 2 , for the recept v ty per od of
orchards 170 and 172, respect vely
(200 and 2006).
The objective of this project is to apply larger amounts
of fertilizer (than annual maintenance applications) in an
attempt to increase the lower crown shoot/foliar levels of
nutrients. Fertilizer will be applied one to two months
before the period of cone differentiation (September), and
response will be measured by shoot/foliar analysis in the
fall (October). Response will also be measured on first-year
cone numbers and seed yields sampled in the fall of 2007.
Procedures
Fertilizer as a flower induction technique in lodgepole pine
seed orchards has principally been studied under the cooler
climate of Prince George. Results from trials established
by Ebell (1990, MFR, Branch Working Plan EP 1071.03)
show that flowering response to heavy doses (200-400
ka/ha) of NH 4 NO 3 can lead to increased flowering, but the
response is not consistent. In general, the trees treated in
Prince George were smaller and more open grown. For our
north Okanagan seed orchards, mature trees are densely
spaced, and lower crown shading may limit nutrient status
and, therefore, shoot vigour if, as Ebell suggests, coning