Biological differentiation of trees in beech stands and its significance for tending operations

Abstract

The characteristics of biological differentiation of trees are analyzed in medium-aged beech stands in similar site conditions and their effect on tending operations. The stands are similar by origin and by age of dominant trees, but they differ significantly by the characteristics of growth elements. The regularity of biological differentiation of trees in stands is the base of the selection adapted to natural processes, such as selection thinning. The primary objective of tending to achieve optimal and stable production should be defined only for the dominant trees whose number in the study stands is 700-1000 trees per ha or 18. 1-29. 9% of the total number of trees. In the initial relations of biological differentiation, the codominant and overtopped trees have only the secondary role from the silvicultural aspect.