Factors affecting radial growth of Quercus ilex L. in a coppice stand in southern France

Abstract

Quercus ilex woodlands in the south of France are characterized by low productivity. Several hypotheses have been put forward to provide an explanation for this phenomenon: (i) senescence of coppice stumps; (ii)limited availability of water and nutrient resources; (iii)intershoot and inter-plant competition. To test some of these hypotheses, growth response to rainfall distribution and nutrient supply (NPK), and the influence of edge effects after clear-cutting were studied in a 40-yr old stand.Curves of radial increment were compared with precipitation and umbrothermic patterns for the 6 years studied. Water availability apparently accounted for some inter-annual differences in growth. However, it was not mean annual rainfall, but rather rainfall occurring in late spring-summer (June, July) which played a large role in determining radial growth. Radial growth was also increased by nutrient supply. Its positive effect was strengthened by favourable rainfall in 1987. Edge-effects following a clear-cut were also found, both in the first year and in four succeeding years following the cut. This comprised in greater radial growth rate for all shoots, with reduced repression of smaller shoots by the larger ones. The effect decreased over a distance of 10 m with increasing distance from the cut field. This could be explained by increased availabiDLy of water, nutrient resources, and light.

Growth response to thinning in Quercus pyrenaica Willd. coppice stands in Spanish central mountain

“…Large trees probably have a greater capacity for resources acquisition, and are thus more able to take advantage of the increase of resources availability that takes place after thinning, and to eventually use these resources for growth. Similar results were obtained by Mayor and Roda [20], Ducrey and Toth [11] and Cartan-Son et al [5]. In these cited studies the annual radial growth is positively correlated with diameter size and differences between diameter classes were statistically significant for the study period.…”

Climate-growth variability in Quercus ilex L. west Iberian open woodlands of different stand density

“…Cork oaks in Portugal usually cease radial growth between December and February with diameter (xylem and bark) growth occurring all through the rest of the year (Costa et al, 2001;2003), although this pattern might vary slightly between years and locations (Cartan-Son et al, 1992;Cherubini et al, 2003). It has also been observed that cork oaks in Portugal reach optimum growth (wood and cork) in June-July and growth is negatively correlated with August temperature, similarly to the relationships we observed.…”

The effect of coppice management on the structure, tree growth and soil nutrients in temperate Turkey

“…In our study we observed a positive relationship between the radial growth rate and the amount of nutrients in the soil in the active coppice on the hilltop. Similarly, Cartan-Son et al (1992) found that the radial growth of Quercus ilex in coppices in southern France was increased by nutrient supply (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium). Although the content of some elements in the soil differed between active and abandoned coppices in our study, we demonstrated its effect on growth only in coppices on the hilltop but not in coppices located on slopes.…”