The severity of Sirococcus shoot blight in mature Norway spruce stands with regard to tree nutrition, topography and stand age

This contribution presents LAI data of 17 Norway spruce stands of different age (from 15 to 102 years) and health status (defoliation ranging from 0 to 40 %) located in the Těšínské Beskydy Mts. (NE of the Czech Republic). Defoliation degree was estimated by ocular observation and LAI was estimated indirectly on the base of gap fraction method using LAI-2000 PCA (Li-Cor, USA). It was found that LAI decreased with stand age (approximately from 12.6 to 8.5) whereas defoliation increased. Therefore, strong relationship between defoliation and LAI as well as gap fractions was found. LAI appears valuable parameter for health status of stand evaluation due to linear relationship (r2 = 0.87) between LAI and defoliation. As LAI can be estimated more objectively by a canopy analyzer then the degree of canopy defoliation by ocular observation, there is a perspective for a wide use LAI in forest practice. The LAI values can be used for the evaluation of health status of Norway spruce stands.

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Interception and soil water relation in Norway spruce stands of different age during the contrasting vegetation seasons of 2017 and 2018

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/135/2018-jfs ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 65 (No. 2) ◽

pp. 51-60 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vít Šrámek ◽

Kateřina Neudertová Hellebrandová ◽

Věra Fadrhonsová

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Water Potential ◽

Soil Water ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Soil Water Potential ◽

Soil Horizon ◽

Stand Age ◽

Substantial Part ◽

Vegetation Season ◽

Spruce Stands

Interception, soil moisture and soil water potential were observed in four Norway spruce stands of different age in two subsequent vegetation seasons 2017 and 2018. Vegetation season 2018 can be characterized as being abnormally hot and dry with only 66% of precipitation in comparison with normal conditions. The interception of spruce increased with the stand age and its dimensions, ranging between 16 and 48% in 2017 and in the majority of stands even increasing in 2018. The soil moisture significantly decreased during the vegetation season 2018, with soil water potential close to the permanent wilting point (–1.5 MPa) for a substantial part of the monitored period. Differences between individual stands were observed in terms of the soil water potential (SWP) development which does not follow the interception patterns suggesting that the stand transpiration is a driving factor responsible for the soil water budget. In all stands, with the exception of the oldest one, the SWP of the upper soil horizon was less than 1.5 MPa for more than 80 days. In such extreme conditions the drought would negatively influence any Norway spruce stand regardless of its age or structure.

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Pruning effect on Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) growth and quality

Forestry Studies / Metsanduslikud Uurimused ◽

10.1515/fsmu-2017-0005 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 66 (1) ◽

pp. 33-48 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Endijs Baders ◽

Janis Donis ◽

Guntars Snepsts ◽

Andis Adamovics ◽

Aris Jansons

Keyword(s):

Picea Abies ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Ring Width ◽

Stand Density ◽

Stand Age ◽

Radial Increment ◽

Annual Increment ◽

Management Activity ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

Occlusion Rate

Abstract Pruning requires significant investment, therefore, the aim of the study was to characterize occlusion of branch wounds and changes in radial increment as well as frequency of browsing damages after pruning of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) in order to provide data for financial calculations and recommendations for practical forestry. Altogether 1,614 pruned and 4,368 unpruned trees from 45 Norway spruce stands were measured and cored. Degree of wound occlusion and browsing damages were assessed, and additional volume increment estimated in each stand. Pruning resulted in significant increase of length of branch-free section: for unpruned trees it was 0.3 ± 0.07 m, but for pruned 3.4 ± 0.10 m. Branch wounds for most of the trees (68%) were filled with resin (occluded), for lower share of trees (31%) – still open, but for some trees (1%) completely occluded. Branch wound occlusion rate was not affected by differences in stand density, but was significantly affected by stand age: proportion of trees with occluded branch scars increased with age. Trees with occluded branch wounds had a significantly higher increase in tree ring width after the pruning in comparison to the period before pruning than trees with open branch wounds, emphasizing the importance of radial increment in development of branch-free layer of wood. Pruning resulted in minor (−7% or −0.28 ± 0.05 m3 ha−1) reduction of annual increment that was statistically significant only up to 3 years after this forest management activity for stands younger than 17 years and with mean height up to 10.5 m. Pruned trees were significantly more browsed than unpruned (6.1% and 2.7%, respectively).

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Bucheckern-Voraussaat unter Fichtenschirm - Ergebnisse eines Versuchs des Deutschen Verbandes Forstlicher Forschungsanstalten/Sektion Waldbau -. Direct Seeding of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Pure Norway Spruce Stands (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) - Results of an Experiment by the German Union of Forest Research Organizations/Silviculture Division -

Forftwiffenfchaftliches Centralblatt ◽

10.1046/j.1439-0337.2003.00160.x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 122 (3) ◽

pp. 160-174 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Bertram Leder ◽

Sven Wagner ◽

Jorg Wollmerstadt ◽

Christian Ammer

Keyword(s):

Picea Abies ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Fagus Sylvatica ◽

European Beech ◽

Direct Seeding ◽

Forest Research ◽

Research Organizations ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

Fagus Sylvatica L

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Imitated Whole Tree Harvesting Show Negligible Effect on Economic Value of Spruce Stands

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12070841 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 841

Author(s):

Iveta Desaine ◽

Annija Kārkliņa ◽

Roberts Matisons ◽

Anna Pastare ◽

Andis Adamovičs ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Economic Value ◽

Forest Types ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

The Difference ◽

Growing Conditions ◽

Whole Tree Harvesting ◽

Whole Tree ◽

Tree Harvesting

The increased removal of forest-derived biomass with whole-tree harvesting (WTH) has raised concerns about the long-term productivity and sustainability of forest ecosystems. If true, this effect needs to be factored in the assessment of long-term feasibility to implement such a drastic forest management measure. Therefore, the economic performance of five experimental plantations in three different forest types, where in 1971 simulated WTH event occurred, was compared with pure, planted and conventionally managed (CH) Norway spruce stands of similar age and growing conditions. Potential incomes of CH and WTH stands were based on timber prices for period 2014–2020. However, regarding the economics of root and stump biomass utilization, they were not included in the estimates. In any given price level, the difference of internal rate of return between the forest types and selected managements were from 2.5% to 6.2%. Therefore, Norway spruce stands demonstrate good potential of independence regardless of stump removal at the previous rotation.

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A Novel Approach to Evaluate the Effect of Neighboring Trees and the Orientation of Tree Social Area on Stem Radial Increment of Norway Spruce Trees

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12020163 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 163

Author(s):

Jan Světlík ◽

Jan Krejza ◽

Pavel Bednář

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Growth Models ◽

Explanatory Power ◽

Radial Increment ◽

Important Indicator ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

Social Area

Tree growth depends on many factors such as microsite conditions, vitality, and variations in climate and genetics. It is generally accepted that higher growth indicates both an economic benefit and better vitality of any tree. Here we use a modified approach of evaluating tree social area to study mutual tree competition based on the orientation and shape of trees social area. The investigation was performed in nine Norway spruce stands in the Czech Republic. The objective of this study performed from 2008 to 2012 was to quantify relative tree radial increments with respect to the lowest and highest competition found in specific sectors of tree social area (AS). Specific groups of trees (tree classes) were evaluated according to their classes (dominant, co-dominant and sub-dominant) and their composition status in ninety-degree sectors of AS using established classifying rules. The results showed that a spatially-available area (AA) is an inappropriate parameter for predicting tree growth, whereas AS provided robust explanatory power to predict relative radial growth. Tree size was observed as an important indicator of relative radial increments. A significantly positive correlation was found for a radial increment of sub-dominant trees with the lowest competition from western directions; whereas a negative correlation was observed when the lowest competition was observed from eastern directions. For dominant trees, there was an evident growth reaction only when more than 50% of the AS was oriented towards one of the cardinal points. Individual differences in the orientation of tree AS may be important parameters with regard to competition and its spatial variability within an area surrounding a particular tree and deserve more detailed attention in tree growth models and practice.

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