ZLV Online

Abstrakt

The work evaluates the growth of European beech, Norway spruce and Silver fir planted under the stands of European mountain ash as a substitute tree species in diverse regimes of stand density. Growth parameters of the above-mentioned underplanted tree species aged 4–11 years were evaluated with respect to different regimes of tending measures in the upper storey of European mountain ash stands aged 28–31 years on 26 research plots established in forest stands under administration of the Lesy České republiky, s. p. (Forests of the Czech Republic, state enterprise), municipal forests situated at altitudes ranging from 770 m to 850 m a.s.l. The evaluated results showed that the most important factor for the success of underplanting is the value of stand density in the upper storey. The demonstrably worst results were recorded in stands, where the high stand density (9–10) had been maintained for the whole time of the growth of underplanted species. By contrast, the best results were shown by underplantings that had already been established under reduced stand densities or where stand densities were gradually reduced during the development of underplanted species. Optimum stand density in European beech aged 5 years appeared to be 3–5; optimum stand density in Norway spruce aged 6 years was 2–4. Regarding the high susceptibility of Silver fir to late frost, it is advised to keep a higher density (ca. 5) of the stand upper storey in the initial stages.