J. For. Sci., 2012, 58(5):234-244 | DOI: 10.17221/92/2011-JFS

Cultivation of speckled alder under harsh mountain conditions

I. Kuneš1, M. Baláš1, T. Koňasová1, D. Zahradník1, V. Balcar2, O. Špulák2, D. Kacálek2, M. Jakl4, J. Jaklová Dytrtová3
1 Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
2 Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Jíloviště-Strnady (Prague), Opočno Research Station, Opočno, Czech Republic
3 Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Academy of Sciences CR, Prague, Czech Republic
4 Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

The aims of the paper were as follows: (1) to assess the applicability of speckled alder for pioneer stands on the mountainous clear-cut tracts and (2) to evaluate the effects of slow-release fertilizer on the survival and growth of speckled alder under harsh environmental conditions. On the basis of seven-year results we can presume that speckled alder is a convenient pioneer species that can be cultivated on harsh mountain sites where the climatic extremes need to be alleviated and a layer of surface humus renewed. The initial slow-release fertilization is, nonetheless, highly desirable. As contrasted to the control the surface and planting hole applications of amendment reduced the total seven-year mortality rate by 9.5% and 20.1%, respectively, and the periodic annual height increment (2003-2009) was promoted by 47% and 59%, respectively. Analogous results were obtained when the values of basal stem diameter and crown diameter were compared. As for the method of application, the placement of the slow-release amendment in the planting holes seems to be more efficient mainly in terms of survival promoting. The surface application is, nonetheless, less laborious and also yielded satisfactory results.

Keywords: Alnus incana; grey alder; site amelioration; slow-acting amendments; biological amelioration

Published: May 31, 2012  Show citation

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Kuneš I, Baláš M, Koňasová T, Zahradník D, Balcar V, Špulák O, et al.. Cultivation of speckled alder under harsh mountain conditions. J. For. Sci. 2012;58(5):234-244. doi: 10.17221/92/2011-JFS.
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