Journal of Forest Science, 2013 (vol. 59), issue 4

Birch (Betula papyrifera) × white spruce (Picea glauca) interactions in mixedwood stands: implications for managementOriginal Paper

Ch.D.B. Hawkins, A. Dhar

J. For. Sci., 2013, 59(4):137-149 | DOI: 10.17221/2/2013-JFS  

Current British Columbia forest regulations drive the regeneration management towards pure conifer stands rather than remaining in a mixed-species condition. This approach may result in unnecessary vegetation control. The main objective of this investigation was to study the impact of variable paper birch densities on white spruce growth in 15-20 years old stands for management implications. Regression analysis was used to examine the effect of birch density and two competition indices to predict spruce growth. A mixed model ANOVA showed that spruce mean annual DBH and basal area increment differed significantly among sites and density. From the regression...

Growth of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karsten) from artificial and natural regeneration in the Krkonoše Mts. and air temperature variabilityOriginal Paper

K. Matějka, J. Leugner

J. For. Sci., 2013, 59(4):150-158 | DOI: 10.17221/25/2012-JFS  

Our research was concerned with a description of the influence of variability in average temperatures on the height growth of selected young populations of spruce in the Krkonoše Mts. Several populations of spruce were evaluated while the majority of them originated by natural regeneration on plots under disturbance of the original tree layer. In addition, several planted spruce populations in similar environmental conditions were also evaluated. The main questions of this study are as follows: is there a difference in height growth between populations of natural and artificial origin? Is it possible to find a relationship between height growth and...

Stand structure indices as tools to support forest management: an application in Trentino forests (Italy)Original Paper

F. Pastorella, A. Paletto

J. For. Sci., 2013, 59(4):159-168 | DOI: 10.17221/75/2012-JFS  

Stand structure and species diversity are two useful parameters to provide a synthetic measure of forest biodiversity. The stand structure is spatial distribution, mutual position, diameter and height differentiation of trees in a forest ecosystem and it highly influences habitat and species diversity. The forest stand and species diversity can be measured through indices that provide important information to better address silvicultural practices and forest management strategies in the short and long-term period. These indices can be combined in a composite index in order to evaluate the complex diversity at the stand level. The aim of the paper is...

Research on reliability of forest harvester operation used in the company Lesy Slovenskej RepublikyOriginal Paper

J. Kováč, J. Krilek, J. Dvořák, P. Natov

J. For. Sci., 2013, 59(4):169-175 | DOI: 10.17221/6/2013-JFS  

The paper deals with reliability of forest harvesters. They are quite modern and helpful in the process of tree felling. The quality of felling is important for the further quality of wood used in wood processing industry. The quality of machines is connected with time for which a machine is able to operate without any breaks caused by repairs and failures. Maintenance is the way how to realize and extend the time for reliability of machines used in felling. This research has shown how to decrease the costs of maintenance, time for its execution, manage the store of spare parts and finally increase profits of felling companies. The research has confirmed...

Phenology of common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) along the altitudinal gradient in Slovakia (Inner Western Carpathians)Original Paper

B. Schieber, R. Janík, Z. Snopková

J. For. Sci., 2013, 59(4):176-184 | DOI: 10.17221/82/2012-JFS  

The onset and course of selected vegetative phenological phases of beech along the altitudinal gradient in Slovak Republic were studied. Observations were done in the Burda Mts. (200-300 m a.s.l.), Kremnické vrchy Mts. (500 m a.s.l.) and in the Poľana Mts. (900-1,000 m a.s.l., 1,200-1,400 m a.s.l.). Selected spring phenological phases (budburst and leaf unfolding) as well as autumn phenological phases (autumn colouring and leaf fall) were investigated over the period of 5 years (2007-2011). The earliest onset of spring phenological phases during the period of study was found at the lowest-lying sites in the Burda Mts. By contrast, the latest one was...