DENDROCHRONOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF BLUE PINE (PINUS WALLICHIANA A.B. JACKS.) OF KULDANA RESERVE FOREST OF TEHSIL MURREE, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Age and growth rate studies of blue pine, Pinus wallichiana (A.B. Jacks.) were carried out in Kuldana reserve forest of Tehsil Murree, Pakistan. Forest was divided into ten stands and cores from fifty trees were taken. Fifty samples (cores) were extracted from this forest by using Swedish increment borers. Velmex Measuring System was used in measuring tree ring widths. Diameter at breast height (Dbh) was measured and GPS (Global Positioning System) reading of each sample was also noted. Crossdating of every sample was done manually by this system. The oldest tree was observed 454 years of age and youngest was 65 years of age. Most of the trees were more than 130 years of age in the study area. Overall, a good growth rate was observed which indicated the climate conditions favored the growth of species in this site. Regression analysis was performed in between Dbh (inches) and age, (years) and Dbh (inches) and growth rate (inches). Maximum value (R2=0.8272) was observed from mid-point to endpoint of Forest which showed significant positive correlation and no significant correlation was observed in both marked points between growth rate (inches) and Dbh (inches) at this site.