Cultivation of speckled alder under harsh mountain conditions

Abstract

The aims of the paper were as follows: (1) to assess the applicability of speckled alder for pioneer stands on the mountainous clear-cut tracts and (2) to evaluate the effects of slow-release fertilizer on the survival and growth of speckled alder under harsh environmental conditions. On the basis of seven-year results we can presume that speckled alder is a convenient pioneer species that can be cultivated on harsh mountain sites where the climatic extremes need to be alleviated and a layer of surface humus renewed. The initial slow-release fertilization is, nonetheless, highly desirable. As contrasted to the control the surface and planting hole applications of amendment reduced the total seven-year mortality rate by 9.5% and 20.1%, respectively, and the periodic annual height increment (2003–2009) was promoted by 47% and 59%, respectively. Analogous results were obtained when the values of basal stem diameter and crown diameter were compared. As for the method of application, the placement of the slow-release amendment in the planting holes seems to be more efficient mainly in terms of survival promoting. The surface application is, nonetheless, less laborious and also yielded satisfactory results.     

Effect of agricultural lands afforestation and tree species composition on the soil reaction, total organic carbon and nitrogen content in the uppermost mineral soil profile

“…The Nenriching role of alder is obvious, which corresponds with other published data (Podrázský et al 2005; Figure 2. Evaluation of total organic carbon (TOC) differences on particular stand and site type; PI -Norway spruce; BE -European beech; LA -European larch; MA -maple; AL -Speckled alder; BI -silver birch; AS -European ash; G -grassland; C -cropland Rejšek et al 2010) as well as general knowledge and consequent forest management (Binkley 1986;Kuneš et al 2012). Especially the basic and general significant difference between conifers and broad-leaves was not proven in the studied case, confirming minor importance of tree species composition if compared to site (climatic and soil genesis) and geological bedrocks Augusto et al 2003).…”

Influence of limestone and amphibolite application on growth of Norway spruce plantation under harsh mountain conditions

“…Analytic methods to determine the chemical composition of assimilatory apparatus were described by Zbíral (1994). In English the analytic methods were shortly summarized by Kuneš et al (2012). The values of height, height increment, stem base diameter and crown diameter were statistically analysed using the non-parametric KruskalWallis Analysis with post-hoc Nemeny's multiple comparisons.…”

Role of planting stock size and fertilizing in initial growth performance of rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.) reforestation in a mountain frost hollow

“…Afterward the concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulphur (S) in dry mass (oven-dried at 70°C to a constant weight) were determined in the Tomás v Laboratory (Opocno, Czech Republic). The applied analytic chemical methods were briefly summarised in English by Kunes et al (2012).…”

“…(S pulák, 2009;Kunes et al, 2012). However, these concentration values might be explained with a high K uptake efficiency of rowan (Weihs, 1993;Zerbe and Meiwes, 2000).…”