Growth characteristics of natural and planted Dahurian larch in northeast China

Abstract. Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii Rupr.) is the dominant species in both natural and planted forests in northeast China, which situated in the southernmost part of the global boreal forest biome and undergoing the greatest climatically induced changes. Published studies (1965–2015) on tree aboveground growth of Larix gmelinii forests in northeast China were collected in this study, critically reviewed, and a comprehensive growth dataset was developed from 123 sites, which distributed between 40.85° N and 53.47° N in latitude, between 118.20° E and 133.70° E in longitude, between 130 m and 1260 m in altitude. The dataset was composed of 776 entries, including growth data (mean tree height, mean DBH, mean tree volume and/or stand volume) and the associated information, i.e., geographical location (latitude, longitude, altitude, aspect and slope), climate (mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP)), stand description (origin, stand age, stand density and canopy density), and sample regime (observing year, plot area and number). It would provide quantitative references for plantation management practices and boreal forest growth prediction under future climate change. The DOI for the data is https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.880984.