Journal of Forest Science, 2023 (vol. 69), issue 2
Theme: The silver fir (Abies alba Mill.).

Support for silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in managed forestsEditorial

Jiří Novák, Dušan Kacálek

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(2):41-43  

Evaluation of silver fir provenances at 51 years of age in provenance trials in the Předhoří Hrubý Jeseník and Nízký Jeseník Mts. regions, Czech RepublicOriginal Paper

Martin Fulín, Jaroslav Dostál, Jiří Čáp, Petr Novotný

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(2):44-59 | DOI: 10.17221/181/2022-JFS  

In 2021, measurements were done at two international provenance research trials for silver fir originating from the same series of experiments. The investigation was carried out in the location Vítkov and Úsov, where both trials were established. Biometric data (tree height, diameter at breast height) were measured and qualitative traits (stem shape, occurrence of stem forking, stem damage, bark pattern, and defoliation) were assessed during the early mature stage of the experiment. Overbark stem volume and per-hectare standing volume were also calculated. Sixty-five provenances of domestic and foreign origin were evaluated in both trials....

Nutrition of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and its comparison with Norway spruce (Picea abies L. H. Karst) from the same forest sites in the Czech RepublicOriginal Paper

Radek Novotný

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(2):60-66 | DOI: 10.17221/162/2022-JFS  

Forests in central Europe were affected by heavy bark beetle outbreak during the years 2014–2022. Decline of Norway spruce brought other species of forest trees, including the fir, to the fore. The nutritional level of silver fir is one of the studied topics. Needles in 14 Norway spruce (NS) – silver fir (SF) mixed forest stands from 4 regions in the Czech Republic have been sampled to survey their nutrition level. Nutrition of NS is often near or below the deficiency limit, while nutrition of SF was assessed as sufficient or good. Differences between both regions and tree species were found. SF drew more nutrients from the...

The increasing drought sensitivity of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is evident in the last two decadesOriginal Paper

Monika Vejpustková, Tomáš Čihák, Petr Fišer

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(2):67-79 | DOI: 10.17221/172/2022-JFS  

Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is still counted among drought-tolerant tree species. However, its ability to cope with the recent extremely dry period has not yet been sufficiently studied. The objective of research was to analyse differences in the climate-growth response between silver fir, Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) and European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) growing in areas with large-scale disintegration of spruce stands. In 2019–2021, the increment cores were sampled at 16 sites along the altitudinal gradient of 340–775 m a.s.l. in different regions of the Czech Republic affected by bark beetle...

Positive effect of fir-rowan intimate mixture on new forest floor and topsoil following afforestationOriginal Paper

Dušan Kacálek, Jan Bartoš, Ondřej Špulák

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(2):80-92 | DOI: 10.17221/180/2022-JFS  

Litterfall of silver fir contributes to development of forest floor similarly like Norway spruce litterfall does. The nutrient return to soil can be intensified by mixing these conifers with other tree species whose effects on soil are positive; our study deals with European rowan. The study aimed at firs and rowans in alternating rows (Fi-Ro) compared to the monospecific plantation of fir (Fi) at two former meadow sites with the stands of 20 and 17 years of age, respectively. Both organic forest floor and its mineral subsurface were sampled. Rowan admixed to the silver fir plantation improved both the uppermost layer and the topsoil as higher...