The potential of native and exotic larches for intensive silviculture programs in Eastern Canada
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Date
1979
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University of New Brunswick
Abstract
Tamarack (Larix laricina (Du Rou) K. Koch), the exotics, Japanese (Larix leptolepsis (Sielo Zucc) Gord), and European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) and the hybrid Dunkeld larch (Larix eurolepsis Henry), are being considered very seriously for intensively managed forests in eastern Canada. A survey of literature was undertaken to study those factors important in assessing the potential of larch in eastern Canada silviculture. Information is presented on growth survival, site requirements, insect and disease problems, wood quality, and genetic improvement.
All larch species studied exhibited fast juvenile growth, high specific gravity of wood, and excellent possibilities for genetic improvement of stem straightness. branchiness, and hybridization ability. tamarack grew well on a wider variety of site conditions compared to other species. Dunkeld hybrids and Japanese larch were faster growers and more disease resistant than Tamarack and European larch. European larch was found to be the least suitable for Eastern Canadian conditions.