scholarly journals Leaf area index of Norway spruce stands in relation to age and defoliation

Beskydy ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Pokorný ◽  
S. Stojnič
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Area Index ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Gap Fraction ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Fraction Method ◽  
Forest Practice

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.

scholarly journals 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 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Changes in the nutrition and health status of young Norway spruce stands in the Krkonoše Mts. in a 17-year period

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 344-354
Author(s):  
Novotný Radek ◽  
Lomský Bohumír ◽  
Šrámek Vít
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Height Increment ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Future Health ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
N Nutrition ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Spruce Needles

For 17 Norway spruce stands located in the Krkonoše Mts. in the Czech Republic a long-term assessment of defoliation, height increment, foliage concentration of nutrients (N, P, Ca, K, Mg) and stress elements (S, F) was carried out. The results show a decrease of defoliation and a slight increase of height increment, which occur in accordance with the decreasing concentration of sulphur in spruce needles. However, neither sulphur concentration nor height increment trends are significant, suggesting that both the main pollution abatement and the growth resumption took place already in the 1990’s. During the late 1990’s the average spruce defoliation was greater than 35%, while since 2007 it has fluctuated between 18 and 25%, which corresponds with the figures for the forest stands located in the other regions of the Czech Republic. The evaluation of single nutrient concentrations detected occasional deficiencies of P and Mg at individual plots. The good N nutrition (&gt; 15 mg N·g<sup>–1</sup>) in combination with a significantly decreasing trend of P, K and Ca concentrations in Norway spruce needles may potentially constitute a problem in regard to both the future health and the stability of forest stands in the studied region.

scholarly journals Effect of early to late wood proportion on Norway spruce biomass

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 287-292
Author(s):  
Radek Pokorný ◽  
Petra Rajsnerová ◽  
Jiří Kubásek ◽  
Irena Marková ◽  
Ivana Tomášková
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Allometric Relationships ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Stem Wood ◽  
Late Wood ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
Summer Time ◽  
Lower Stem

Aboveground biomass, allometric relationships and early to late wood proportions were investigated in two even-aged monocultures of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst) located at mountain and highland localities of the Czech Republic. However similar stand age and tree size, mountain trees comparing to them from highland showed less/tapering stems, lower aboveground biomass and lower stem wood density along the whole stem vertical profile as a result of different early to late wood proportion. These proportions were 79 % and 54 % for early wood, and 21 % and 46 % for late wood within mean stem annual circle in mountain and highland locality, respectively. These different proportions seem to reflected site specific growing conditions, particularly highly sufficient water availability during spring time in mountain region- support early wood growth, whereas elevated air temperature during summer time in highland region stimulate late wood growth.

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

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 51-60 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals The health and nutritional status of Norway spruce stands in the Krušné hory Mts. 15 years subsequent to the extreme winter of 1995/96

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 359-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Lomský ◽  
V. Šrámek ◽  
R. Novotný
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Fluorine Content ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Eastern Area ◽  
Crown Defoliation ◽  
Ridge Area ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Negative Effect

Since 1994, the nutritional status and the air pollution load have been evaluated on 20 research plots, located in young Norway spruce stands in the ridge area of the Kru&scaron;n&eacute; hory Mts. The most recent acute damage to the spruce stands, in the winter of 1995/96, was connected with a long-lasting inversion situation in the eastern area of the Kru&scaron;n&eacute; hory Mts. Today, the health status of the spruce stands, expressed in terms of the crown defoliation, has recovered and is comparable to that found in other regions of the Czech Republic. The sulphur and fluorine content of the needles has decreased significantly. The long-term negative effect of acid deposition that contributes to the degradation of forest soils remains an important part of stressors acting on forest ecosystems in the region. In recent years, nitrogen and sulphur concentrations in the needles have increased slightly again. A long-term tendency towards a decrease in the phosphorus, calcium and potassium content of the needles was detected.&nbsp; &nbsp;

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

2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-48 ◽  
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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