Journal of Forest Science, 2026 (vol. 72), issue 6
The role of hyperspectral imaging in forest seedling phenotypingReview
Martina Đodan, Sanja Perić, Karmen Vugdelija
J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(6):269-284 | DOI: 10.17221/22/2026-JFS 
In recent years, hyperspectral imaging has been widely adopted in agriculture and plant phenotyping, while its application in forestry has been increasing. From that point onward, hyperspectral imaging has become a valuable tool for plant phenotyping, enabling the assessment of a broad range of plant traits. Given that seedlings of forest trees are one of the most widely used types of forest planting stock, advancements in hyperspectral technology have created new possibilities for improving seedling quality assessment. High-quality forest seedlings are important for the successful establishment of forest stands, especially after outplanting...
Comparison of indirect optical methods for estimating effective leaf area index in young Norway spruce standsOriginal Paper
Jakub Černý, Jaroslav Čepl, Zdeněk Vacek, Jan Cukor, Stanislav Vacek
J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(6):285-296 | DOI: 10.17221/42/2026-JFS
Forest canopy structure is crucial for regulating light interception, carbon exchange, and water balance, making accurate estimation of leaf area index (LAI) essential for forest ecology and management. This study compared three indirect optical methods (LAI-2200 PCA, LaiPen LP 110, and digital hemispherical photography – DHP) for estimating effective leaf area index (LAIe) in young Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] stands. It evaluated the influence of the field of view (FOV) and seasonal timing on inter-method agreement. The research was conducted in young, even-aged Norway spruce stands at the Křivina...
Effects of red oak (Quercus rubra L.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) on early soil development during afforestation of nutrient-poor post-mining sandsOriginal Paper
Ondřej ©pulák
J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(6):297-307 | DOI: 10.17221/29/2026-JFS
The article aims to raise the knowledge on how the Northern red oak affects the soil formation and nutrient cycling compared to Scots pine during the early-stage reclamation of nutrient-poor mineral soil that originated in the deep soil layers in a former sand quarry. Furthermore, the aim is to also answer the question if the admixture of red oak helps to regenerate the soil properties more effectively than pure stands. Three treatments were established: pure red oak, pure pine, and a mixed stand, where organic [composite samples of L+F (litter and fermented), F+H (fermented and humic)] and mineral (A, C) soil horizons were analysed. The oak significantly...
Evaluation of selected forest ecosystem services in forest management planning using multi-criteria decision analysis: A pilot study in the Czech RepublicOriginal Paper
Jan Kaąpar, Zohreh Mohammadi, Meryem Tahri
J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(6):308-321 | DOI: 10.17221/43/2026-JFS
Forest ecosystems provide multiple ecosystem services (ES), including timber production, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, soil protection, and cultural functions. Integrating these often conflicting objectives into forest management planning represents a complex multi-criteria decision-making (MCDA) problem. This study proposes a practical MCDA framework for evaluating selected ecosystem services within the Czech forest management planning system (LHP/LHO). The framework integrates forest growth simulation, ecosystem service indicators, GIS data, and MCDA methods. Five indicators were evaluated: wood production, carbon stock, erosion...