Long-term growth trends of red spruce and fraser fir at Mt Rogers, Virginia and Mt Mitchell, North Carolina

Cross-sectional area growth and height growth of Fraser fir and red spruce toes growing in Virginia and North Carolina were analyzed to identify possi ble long-term growth trends. Cross-sectional area growth provided no eviden ce of growth decline. The individual discs were classified according to par ameter estimates of the growth trend equation. The predominant pattern of g rowth was a steady increase followed by fluctuation about a horizontal line . Other cross-sections exhibited a steady increase throughout the series. T he only discs that represent declining growth patterns were from trees in s ubordinate crown position or which had previous top damage. No unexplained growth decline was present in any disc. The results regarding height growth were uncertain. A slight decline in height growth was present although we suggest that this observation was due to problems with the data or the mode l used to fit height growth. These Endings contradict other studies suggest ing that a recent growth decline has occurred in red spruce in the southern Appalachians. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.