Phenological observations record the dynamics of vegetation in relation to meteorological conditions as well as the long-term trends in relation to climate change. We processed 20-year data of the flowering (BBCH scale 60), leaves unfolding (BBCH 11) and ripening of fruits (BBCH 86) of four woody species in south-west and central Slovakia. The phenological year begins with the flowering of the hazel. This phenophase has the largest amplitude of onset (52-65 days) as well as interannual variability (s x = 20.2-33.4%) as it enters an unstable condition in early spring. At all stations, the order of phenophases is the same from the end of April. We found the highest vertical phenology gradient of the BBCH 60 Tilia cordata Mill. (6 days/100 m) and the smallest of BBCH 11 T. cordata (2.4 days/100). The statistically significant trends (p < 0.05) in shifting to the earlier period were in BBCH 60 Crataegus oxyacantha L. (0.4-0.5 days per year), BBCH 86 Corylus avellana L. (0.6 days per year), BBCH 60 Prunus spinosa L. (0.5-0,6 days per year) and BBCH 11 Prunus spinosa L. (0.6-0.7 days per year). These shifts indicate the change in the onset of the phenophases in south-west and central Slovakia.
The work presents the result of the drought impact on the onset and the development of autumn phenological phases of tree species (Quercus robur L., Carpinus betulus L., Prunus avium L.) in the central part of Slovakia. The selected autumn phenological phases of tree species were observed in the years from 2011 to 2015. From meteorological parameters we examined precipitation, number of tropical days, and their periods from June to August. We revealed distinct differences in air temperature and precipitation between the years, which affected the onset of individual phenological phases. Based on the calculations of the Thornthwaite moisture index and climatic water balance, the year 2014 was wet (except for June) with the shortest periods of tropical days. The extreme drought and the longest 13-day period of tropical days in the year 2015 shifted leaf colouring of hornbeam and cherry tree by 16 and 22 days earlier and the leaf fall by 5 and 16 days earlier than the average of the period from 2011 to 2015. Oak was the least sensitive to the weather extremes, which was documented by a balanced course of the phenological phases with the lowest variation. The 5-year-long average onset of the autumn phenophases of oak and hornbeam was shifted by 1 -4 days later and of cherry tree by 4 days earlier than the 25-year-long average.
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