Effect of Provenance and Environmental Factors on Tree Growth and Tree Water Status of Norway Spruce

Changes in temperature regime, and a higher frequency of extreme weather conditions due to global warming are considered great risks for forest stands worldwide because their negative impact on tree growth vitality. We examined water balance two provenances Norway spruce growing Arboretum Borová hora (350 m a.s.l., Zvolen, central Slovakia) that originated from climatologically cooler conditions. The research was performed during three meteorologically different years 2017 2019. evaluated the climatic soil factors intra-species variability radial stem status were characterised by seasonal increment, deficit maximum daily shrinkage derived records circumference changes obtained band dendrometers installed five mature trees each provenance. environmental characteristics using univariate factor analysis four machine learning models (random forest, support vector machine, gradient boosting neural network). responses differed between provenances. Seasonal increments provenance greater than those originating wetter long-term shortage latter had cope with current environment, while region more sensitive short-term