The growth of young white spruce (Picea glauca) can be limited by a variety of different factors although few detailed studies have taken up this question in the Yukon. In British Columbia and Alaska numerous studies have examined the relationship between growth of white spruce and physical factors such as temperature, moisture, nutrients as well as key biotic factors such as competition, insects and disease (Coates 1994). White spruce grow very slowly in the southwestern Yukon and possible limiting factors include our cool, short summers (temperature), lack of moisture and nutrient shortages (especially nitrogen).
Soil temperature can have a major impact on tree growth because physiological processes in the roots (growth and water uptake) are temperature dependent (Stathers and Spittlehouse 1990). The soil temperature regime is often site specific and may vary with the ground cover and site preparation after logging activity. This report describes the preliminary results I obtained in 1999 on the shallow soil temperature regime in a logged area that has been planted with white spruce seedlings.
