Responses of radiata pine clones to varying levels of pasture competition in a semiarid environment

An experiment comprising seven clones with four levels of weed competition was established on a semiarid site on the Canterbury plains, New Zealand, during September 1996. Previous experiments showed that trees subjected to little competition from weeds did not always respond to their favourable environments, resulting in more variation among individuals subjected to less competition. The aim of this experiment was to determine whether the variable response to competitive environment is partly a genetic effect. The main plots consisted of four levels of competition: no competition and cleared spots: 3.14, 0.75, and 0.03 m(2). Within each plot there were 10 individuals of each clone. Trees generally grew more rapidly with increasing amounts of clear ground, but increasing spots beyond 3.14 m(2) did not increase growth during the first year. Variation, expressed as coefficient of variation, was greater among trees subjected to more competition. Within clone coefficient of variation was not related to level of competition.