J. For. Sci., 2011, 57(6):259-265 | DOI: 10.17221/2/2011-JFS

Long-term silvicultural experiment with transformation of the mixed stand structure

L. Šimerda¹, J. Souček²

¹ Kristina Colloredo-Mansfeld - Forest Administration, Opočno, Czech Republic

² Research Station Opočno, Forest and Game Management Research Institute, Jíloviště-Strnady, Czech Republic

The paper summarizes the main characteristics of a mixed stand during 80-year transformation to the mixed stand with permanent selective structure. The initial main stand was mostly composed of conifers with group arrangement, broadleaves as the reserved trees created the upper storey. Partial opening by thinnings prepared the stand for regeneration. Heavy thinning in 1959 (22% of the growing stock) opened the main stand and released the advance growth of broadleaves. Subsequent stand development was negatively affected by air pollution. Mainly fir and spruce responded to air pollution by deteriorated health condition and increment reduction. Beech and other broadleaves gradually increased their proportion in the stand (64% of the growing stock in 2008). Initial diameter distribution was sinistral, reserved trees affected the frequency of thick trees. Final diameter distribution resembled the model curve for selective forests, the number of thin trees was below the model curve for broadleaved forests with selective structure in these types of localities. Mean increments of individual species changed according to their stand position. Low fecundity of trees, weed infestation and game damage limited natural regeneration, artificial regeneration dominated for the whole time. The complicated structure corresponding to selective forest occurred rarely during the monitored period, the stand was differentiated mainly by spatial arrangement.

Keywords: production; regeneration; species composition; stand transformation

Published: June 30, 2011  Show citation