Comparison of early growth among three cedar types in a clear-logged site in central Shikoku—Conventional seedlings and two cutting varieties from Kyushu—

Abstract

We monitored the early growth of young cedar trees for three years in a clear-logged site in central Shikoku using conventional seedlings and two cutting varieties from Kyushu; ‘Takaoka#1’ and ‘Tanoaka.’ The ratio of height to stem diameter (H/D ratio) was very high for Shikoku conventional seedlings at the planting, and then the H/D ratio of three tree types became almost equivalent after one year. No difference was found among the height of the three tree types three years after planting, though ‘Tanoaka’ had a smaller stem diameter and larger H/D ratio, and ‘Takaoka#1’ showed a smaller H/D ratio. The relatively cool condition at the study site might inhibit the height growth of two cutting varieties, thus it requires choosing planting areas carefully in Shikoku for cedar cutting varieties from Kyushu.