ZLV Online

Abstrakt

Forest stand composition and structure are key factors affecting the productivity, resilience, and ecological functioning of forest ecosystems under changing climatic conditions. However, quantitative assessments comparing different stand types and mixture degrees remain limited, particularly for Central European beech–spruce forests. The study aimed to evaluate the production potential of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] H. Karst.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in three different stand structures; specifically, two monocultures (A1_EB, A2_NS), two even-aged mixed stands (B1_EB, B2_NS), and one structurally rich stand (C_NS) were studied. The Forest Training Enterprise Křtiny in the Masaryk Forest, South Moravia, Czech Republic (397–553 m a.s.l.) managed all these stands. The competitive environment among the variants was not statistically significant; however, the production parameters showed substantial differences. The structurally rich spruce stand (C_NS) exhibited more than 40% higher production compared to the other spruce variants (A2_NS and B2_NS). Analysis of five-year basal area inkrement (BAI) periods from 1991 to 2020 consistently confirmed the highest values for the C_NS variant, with significant differences (p < 0.05) in most observed intervals. The results demonstrate the strong production potential of the structurally rich stand, especially for Norway spruce, under Central European conditions. In contrast, European beech showed a more moderate growth pattern, with no statistically significant differences observed across the five-year intervals. The study supports silvicultural strategies that promote mixed and spatially heterogeneous stand structures as a mean to increase both productivity and ecological stability.