Testing species of genus Abies for Christmas tree production in Norway.

Ten exoticAbiesspecies were tested in two field trials, where the aim was to find suitable species and provenances for Christmas tree production in coastal and fjord areas in Norway. The material included 14 provenances ofAbies nordmanniana, 3 provenances ofAbies bornmuelleriana, 3 provenances ofAbies koreana, 2 provenances ofAbies amabilis, and 1 provenance each ofAbies equi-trojani,Abies alba,Abies procera,Abies homolepis,Abies nephrolepis, andAbies forrestii. Field trials were established at Gulen in Sogn og Fjordane County and at Verdal in Nord-Trøndelag County. Christmas tree classification was done seven and eight growing seasons after establishment. The Christmas tree yield was higher in Gulen (64%) than in Verdal (45%), which is situated further north. Also, the survival and the height growth were higher in Gulen than in Verdal. A more humid climate and a longer growth season in Gulen may explain some of the differences. Of the 10 species,A. nordmanniana,A. homolepis, andA. bornmuellerianaproduced the highest Christmas tree yield at Gulen, whileA. homolepisandA. koreanahad the highest yield at Verdal. Due to early bud burst,A. equi-trojaniandA. bornmuellerianaare only suited for Christmas tree growing in the best climatic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]