ZLV Online

Abstract

Qualitative production markedly influences the final value production of stands. It depends on numerous factors, however, tending should be considered one of the most important. The goal of the paper was to compare the qualitative production in pure beech stands, tended by different thinning methods during the long time (more than 50 years): (i) – heavy thinning from below (C grade according to German Forestry Research Institutes from 1902), (ii) – free crown thinning defined by Štefančík, (iii) – control (no interventions). We assessed both traits of quality and damage of lower half part of the stem according to following classification (A – best quality, D – worst quality). Totally, more than 19,000 trees at the beginning of the research and almost 3,000 individuals at the age from 83 to 105 years in 23 subplots located in Slovakia were assessed. The highest proportion of the best quality stems (class A) calculated out of basal area and merchantable volume was found by free crown thinning defined by Štefančík (56% to 83% and/or 59% to 85%, respectively). The lowest proportion was achieved in subplots with no intervention (21% to 54% and/or 22% to 56%, respectively). Subplots with heavy thinning from below showed 48% to 82%. The results confirmed favourable effect by long-term tending on beech qualitative production.