ZLV Online

Scotch elm (Ulmus glabra HUDS.) plantations were established in order to investigate their growth potential and response to chemical amelioration of a poor soil derived from a granite on higher mountain sites (at 950 m a. s. l.). The experiment includes control (4 replications) and two ameliorative treatments (3 replications each). The finely ground rocks (1 kg of dolomitic limestone and 2 kg of amphibolite) were added to planting holes and mixed with soil in the limestone and amphibolite variant. A positive effect of chemical amelioration on Scotch elm in terms of survival and height growth is obvious. In the control, 97% of trees died during 14 years of investigation while 57% and 68% of individuals survived in the amphibolite and limestone variants, respectively. Concerning height growth, we found significantly higher mean height for limestone variant (123 cm; confidence interval ± 16) compared to amphibolite (95 cm; confidence interval ± 10) since 2002.