Cariboo
Forest
Region
 Siberian and Western Larch Species Trial
Extension Note EN03

Introduction

Siberian and western larch were chosen for comparison with four other species in this trial. Larch may provide another species choice for silviculturists, which could be especially beneficial on drier ecosystems with limited species options.

Western larch (Larix occidentalis) is generally a fast growing species on productive sites, and appears to have a higher resistance to Armillaria root disease(Armillaria ostoyae) than native conifers. Western larch also produces high-quality wood. Siberian larch grows over a wide range of Eurasia, extending north from bolow the fiftieth parallel, and may be well adapted to short growing seasons and cold winters.

A species trial was established in 1987 to test the potential of two larch species in the Cariboo across four biogeoclimatic subzones (IDFdk4, SBSmw, ICHwk2 and ESSFwk1) and compare them to three native species - interior spruce, lodgepole pine and Douglas-fir - along with an introduced species, ponderosa pine. Spruce was not planted on the dry IDFdk4 site, and Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine were not used on the high elevation ESSFwk1 site. Most of the seedlings were grown in PDB 313 styroblock containers, except for all of the pine and the western larch seedlings on the ESSFwk1 site, which were grown in PSB 211 containers.
 

Contact

For more information, contact:

Teresa Newsome at 250-398-4408

Reference

Five Year Growth Results of a Species Trial Involving Siberian and Western Larch Compared to Four Other Species on Four Different Ecosystems in Central British Columbia, presented at Ecology and Management of Larix Forests: A Look Ahead, Montana, October 1992, and to be published in the conference proceedings.
 
Trial Number
SX8711OC

 
 

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