ZLV Online

Decree no. 139/2004 Coll. allows significantly decreased minimal density of planting stock to be used for purposes of artificial regeneration. The lower number of planted trees comes up for a discussion about the influence of initial number of plantations upon wood quantity and quality of future stands. Paper gives the first results from planting experiment with different density of beeches in rectangle spacing (initial tree number from 2,500 to 10,000 pcs. per ha). Experiment was established in 1994 under optimal-beech site conditions (Abieto-Fagetum mesotrophicum). Existing results did not show significant differences in height and diameter growth of beeches in the experimental plot. Differences in mean heights of individual spacing variants did not exceed 0.5 m at the age of 12 and 14 years. Dominant height (20% of the highest trees) exceeded 6 m in all spacing variants at the age of 14 years. Different spacing influenced character of stem and branch forming. Dense plantations (square spacing 10,000 pcs. per ha) had higher share of individuals with high stem and branching quality and low share of low-quality individuals compared to other spacing variants.