DENDROCHRONOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF JUNIPERUS EXCELSA (M.BIEB) FROM DRY TEMPERATE FOREST OF BALOCHISTAN PROVINCE, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Tree-rings are widely studied for determining tree ages, growth rates and reconstruction of thé past climate. Wood samples in the form of cross-sections and cores were obtained from 50 living Juniperus excelsa trees to determine their age, growth rates and ring-width characteristics from all sites of this dry temperate species. Age and growth rates varied greatly from tree to tree and site to site and even in the same sized trees. All the selected trees showed annual nature of growth rings with distinct and clear ring boundaries. Cross dating was not possible in all sample trees. Various problems were encountered during cross- dating. The presence of false rings, missing rings, wedge out, lack of ring pattern consistency and lobate growth around the tree was observed in J. excelsa. The results indicated that at least 4 cores, a suitable site-selection and samples of tree rings in the form of trunks sections may improve ring width characteristics and can successfully be used in Dendrochronological studies.