Growth and health state of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in the ridge area of the Jizerské hory Mts. Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Strnady, Opočno Research Station, Opočno, Czech Republic ABSTRACT: The silver fir was planted under mountain conditions in order to reveal its response to the addition of finely ground rocks (limestone and amphibolite) mixed with soil into the planting holes. The results document that the increments of the plantations fertilised with amphibolite were higher by 25% on average than those of the control plantations while the increments of the plantations treated with dolomitic limestone were lower by 13%. Generally, as concerns both the plantations with the application of ground rocks and the control ones, the development of the fir plantations in 1994-2007 is considered successful. As the damage by climatic stresses has gradually diminished, the number of dead trees has been decreasing and the height increments have been increasing in the last years, therefore a positive development is to be expected also in future. Five-year old, bare-rooted plants of the silver fir were planted within the research plot in the spring of 1994, at a spacing of 2 × 1 m onto square parcels 10 × 10 m in size (i.e. 50 individuals per parcel). The average initial height of the fir plantations was 18 cm. To minimise the influence of random differences on the growth conditions (soil conditions, microrelief, etc.), the plantings on the research plot were distributed into three blocks -replications, each replication included all variants; i.e. 450 fir plantings were planted altogether (control + ameliorated). The tests of the potential support to the vitality of the fir plantations by means of ameliorating measures were a part of the experiment. A part of the plantings was standard without soil amelioration treatment (control), in another part finely ground dolomitic limestone and finely ground amphibolite were added into the soil (Balcar et al. 2005). V. Balcar, D. Kacálek(Note: Dolomitic limestone of Horní Lánov origin contained 21.5% Ca and 11.3% Mg and consisted of these particle-size fractions: 57.5% of particles smaller than 0.2 mm, 20.4% of particles 0.2-0.5 mm in diameter, 16.3% of particles 0.5-1.0 mm in diameter, and 5.8% particles larger than 1.0 mm. Amphibolite of Markovice origin contained 7.9% Ca, 4.8% Mg, 0.8% K, and 0.1% P, and its particle-size structure was as follows: 42% of particles smaller than 0.05 mm, 53% of particles 0.50-0.25 mm in diameter, and 5% of particles larger than 0.25 mm.) Both these ground rocks were mixed with soil in the hole during planting, dolomitic limestone and amphibolite were applied in the amounts of 1 kg and 2 kg per plant, respectively (Balcar, Podrázský 1995;Podrázský, Balcar 1996;Kuneš et al. 2004). The amount of limestone was chosen based on previous positive experience with such ameliorative material added to support the growth of plantings near Trutnov (Tesař 1968), in the Orlické hory Mts. and Jizerské hory Mts. (Podrázský 1994). The d...

Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) is naturally a principal tree species in the upper and summit parts of the Jizerské hory Mts., nonetheless, a broadleaved admixture, such as European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.), birch (Betula sp.), sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) etc., was typical of the local indigenous forests. The broadleaved admixture has been reduced due to human activities in the course of history.Moreover, during the air-pollution disaster in the 1970s and 1980s, the allochthonous conifers were often cultivated in the most affected mountain parts (Pěnička 2007) for their better pollution resistance. Blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelmann) is the most important representative. At present, when the disaster is over and the air-pollution input to the forest ecosystems is lowered, these allochthonous stands should successively be converted into stands composed of more convenient native tree species (Balcar, Kacálek 2008a).The young coniferous plantations, which have replaced the old forests disturbed by pollution, are The aim of the experiment was to test the suitability of Alnus incana to form preparatory stands covering the site and thus enabling the reintroduction of more sensitive target species. A potential of Alnus incana to respond to slow-release fertilizing was tested as well. The control treatment showed sufficient growth dynamics, nevertheless, the fertilization significantly promoted the growth (documented by height, height increment and stem-base diameter). If some limitations of alder such as high light requirements are respected, the speckled alder can be recommended as a suitable species for preparatory stands even in the 7 th and 8 th altitudinal (vegetation) zones, especially when fertilized.

ABSTRACT:The effect of stand density on the resistance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) to climatic stress and subsequent response of diameter increment were investigated using data gathered from six long-term experimental series located in the typical pine regions of the Czech Republic (sandy nutrient-poor soils on the Pineto-Quercetum oligotrophicum-arenosum). Diameter growth of dominant individuals (with the largest diameter at the age before the first thinning) was measured in all variants of experimental series (control and thinned). Monthly average temperature and total precipitation were taken from the nearest climatological stations and, additionally, three climatic factors (precipitation and temperature ratio in different periods) were calculated. Diameter growth responses were analyzed in connection with long-term deviations of climatic characteristics. The effect of different stand density on diameter growth response in relation to climate situations was evaluated by cluster analysis and the variability of diameter growth response to climate situations was interpreted by the variance of correlation coefficients in groups of sample trees. The investigation confirmed the significant negative effect of meteorological drought on diameter increment of studied pine stands in the period of the last 30 years. At the same time, we observed a significant positive influence of higher spring (February, March) air temperatures on the annual diameter growth of dominant trees. The effect of stand density (in thinned stands) on the relation between diameter growth and climatic characteristic was not significant.

ABSTRACT:To keep forest soils fertile, forest practitioners plant mixed stands that are composed of both economically efficient trees such as conifers and soil-improving broadleaves. This is a mandated practice in the Czech Republic. As the new forest grows, it creates a dense canopy. The canopy is a principal source of organic matter to the forest soil. The formation of new forest humus is particularly important in first-generation forests on the former agricultural soil. Former meadow is a suitable site for forest floor and soil investigation since forest-floor humus covering the surface of the soil is a completely new layer. Both pure evergreen conifer and mixed treatments were planted in 2001. The experimental plot was established in order to investigate performance of tree species and restoration of forest-site conditions. We sampled dead-plant material and 0-10 cm topsoil to investigate their properties under the 10-year-old stands. We compared the treatments by descriptive statistics using both univariate and multivariate techniques. Dry mass (medians of weight) varied among the treatments from 11 to 19 Mg·ha -1 . The forest floor nutrient concentrations appeared to be dependent on the presence of admixed deciduous tree species (sycamore maple, small-leaved linden and European larch) as these forest floors (EL1, EL2, NS3, SM) were higher in base cations and phosphorus compared to pure spruce (NS1, NS2) and pure Douglas fir (DF) treatments. The first axis of PCA ordination plot revealed 45% of total variability and showed a clear distinction between evergreen coniferous and mixed species treatments. Young plantations produced forest floors of different quality; however it was not reflected in the topsoil properties.

Forest floor is considered a major feature distinguishing forest from agricultural soils. Forest floor develops as forest stands grow and is composed of more or less altered plant-tissue biomass accumulated on the soil surface. Our study's aim was to find whether properties of both the organic layers and mineral soil differ according to the land-use history of the sites compared. Each site included an afforested area of immature 50-year-old spruce forest (AFF) on formerly agricultural land plus an adjacent area of old-growth 100-year-old spruce stand (FOR). The localities are situated at altitudes ranging between 600 and 850 metres above sea level. From the results of our study it can be concluded that both forest floor and mineral soil had higher pH and Ca concentration at formerly agricultural sites. C/N ratio is significantly lower in afforested soil. First-generation humus was significantly higher in phosphorus.Key words: afforestation; land use; legacy of agriculture; Picea abies (L.) Karst. ResumenImpactos en las propiedades del suelo de los bosques de pinabete en terrenos agrícolas abandonados El piso forestal es considerado una de las principales características distintivas de los suelos forestales frente a los agrícolas. El piso forestal se desarrolla según crecen las masas forestales y se compone de tejidos de vegetales de la biomasa más o menos alterados acumulados en la superficie del suelo. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue determinar si las propiedades de las capas orgánicas y minerales del suelo difieren de acuerdo a la historia del uso del suelo de los sitios. Cada sitio incluye un área reforestada de bosque de pinabete inmaduro de 50 años de edad (AFF) en antiguo terreno agrícola, más un área adyacente madura de pinabete de 100 años de edad. Las localidades se encuentran en altitudes que oscilan entre 600 y 850 metros sobre el nivel del mar. De los resultados de nuestro estudio se puede concluir que tanto el suelo del bosque como el suelo mineral tenían un pH más alto y mayor concentración de Ca en los sitios agrícolas abandonados. La relación C/N es significativamente menor en los suelos reforestados. La primera generación de humus presentó un significativamente mayor contenido en fósforo.Palabras clave: reforestación; uso del suelo; Picea abies.