Nutrient fluxes in pure and mixed stands of spruce (Picea abies) and beech (Fagus sylvatica)

In this paper, we report an investigation of how forest stand mixture may affect biomass allometric relationships in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Analysis of aboveground biomass data was conducted for 50 trees: 25 sample trees from a pure Norway spruce stand and 25 from a mixed stand of Norway spruce with European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). ANCOVA results demonstrated that individual-tree biomass allometry of the pure stand significantly differed from that of the mixed stand. Allometric characteristics depended on the biomass component recorded and the type of biomass predictor used. When predicted by diameter at breast height and (or) height, the total aboveground biomass of mixed-stand trees was significantly less than that for pure-stand trees. This “apparent” lower aboveground biomass was attributed to the lower branch and needle biomass proportions of trees growing in mixed stand. The findings indicate that caution should be exercised when applying biomass allometric models developed from pure stands to predict tree biomass in mixed stands (and vice versa), as such data treatment may introduce significant bias.

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Relationships between tree dimension and coarse root biomass in mixed stands of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies[L.] Karst.)

Plant and Soil ◽

10.1023/b:plso.0000047777.23344.a3 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 264 (1/2) ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 86

Author(s):

A. Bolte ◽

T. Rahmann ◽

M. Kuhr ◽

P. Pogoda ◽

D. Murach ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Picea Abies ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Fagus Sylvatica ◽

Root Biomass ◽

European Beech ◽

Mixed Stands ◽

Coarse Root ◽

Fagus Sylvatica L

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The elasticity of growth in pure and mixed stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/4721-jfs ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 49 (No. 11) ◽

pp. 491-501 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

H. Pretzsch

Keyword(s):

Picea Abies ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Fagus Sylvatica ◽

Practical Importance ◽

Stand Density ◽

Maximum Growth ◽

Mixed Stands ◽

Common Beech ◽

Fagus Sylvatica L

This study indicates that the growth of mixed stands with Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is more stable across a range of stand densities than it is in pure forests of the same species. Typical density-growth-relationships are derived from 42 long-term experimental areas with 134 plots in total, the oldest of them under survey since 1870. From these results it is apparent that in pure stands maximum growth can be obtained only at medium stand density, whereas in mixed stands growth is almost unchanged over a range of low, medium and high stand density. The finding that mixed stands may perform a superior growth to pure stands with either decreasing or increasing stand density has often been overlooked but is nevertheless of major practical importance.

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Vertical distribution and radial growth of coarse roots in pure and mixed stands of Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x00-195 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 539-548 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Iris Schmid ◽

Marian Kazda

Keyword(s):

Picea Abies ◽

Root Growth ◽

Vertical Distribution ◽

Root System ◽

Fagus Sylvatica ◽

Radial Growth ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Mixed Stand ◽

Pure Stand ◽

Mixed Stands

The vertical distribution of roots greater than 2 mm diameter was determined from digital images covering 116-m2 profile walls in soil pits in pure stands of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and in a mixed stand of both species. Radial root growth was assessed for roots greater than 5 mm diameter by growth ring analysis. Beech roots showed maximum density at the 10- to 20-cm depth, whereas the density of spruce roots decreased exponentially with increasing soil depth. Roots of both species reached the maximum excavation depth (1 m) in their monospecific stands. However, the root system of spruce was shallower in the mixture with beech, where large roots (diameter (d) >20 mm) were limited to the upper 10 cm. Beech roots reached the same rooting depth as in the pure stand but showed higher root densities in deeper soil layers. Neither root diameter nor root growth of any species was correlated with soil depth. Radial root growth of beech exceeded that of spruce significantly in both pure and mixed stands. Radial growth rate of beech roots further increased when mixed with spruce. The enhancement of beech root growth in the mixed stand suggests a higher belowground competitive ability of beech compared with spruce; as a result the spruce root system developed even shallower in the mixed versus in the pure stand.

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