GROWTH-RESPONSE OF RED SPRUCE AFTER KNOWN PERIODS OF WINTER INJURY

Winter injury occurred region wide on red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) during the winters of 1981, 1984, 1989, and 1993, affecting (primarily ) needles that were produced during the growing seasons of 1980; 1983, 1988, and 1992, respectively. Red spruce trees growing in four plots, one each above and below cloud base on windward and leeward sides of Whiteface Mountain, Wilmington, N.Y., were evaluated to determine thei r health classification and growth characteristics in response to wint er injury. When needle weight was compared between adjacent years, it was consistently greater on 1981, 1984, and 1989 internodes than on th e preceding year's internodes, which were known to be affected by wint er injury. When similar comparisons were made on bole growth, basal ar ea increment consistently decreased the growing season immediately aft er winter injury. The decrease was significant for all health classes on both windward and leeward aspects in 1981. Historical tree-ring rec ords dating back 100 years also showed a reduction in basal area incre ment associated with years of reported winter injury. Internodal lengt h also decreased in response to winter injury. This decrease was consi stent and generally significant in 1983 and 1986, each 2 years after w inter injury events. Radial growth reduction in the year of, and inter node growth reduction 2 years after, winter injury suggests specific g rowth processes associated with specific foliage.