State of beech pole stands established at the clear-cut and in the underplanting

Abstract

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) represents the major climax tree species in the forests of Central Europe growing at many sites. The reintroduction of this species is an important silvicultural topic because of stability and diversity of forest ecosystems and vitality of forest soils in this region. The present study documents the growth, quality of growth and vitality of beech plantations in two positions at the same site (580 m a.s.l., forest habitat type 5K8 – acid fir-beech site, soil type Cambisol): underplantings at 50% of the light intensity of open space and clear-cut. Plantations were established in 1994 by bare-root plants on the same day of April, at a 1 × 1 m spacing, the shelter at the underplanted locality was removed in 2010. In 2017, the plantations showed very different characteristics (underplanting/clear-cut position): density 5,900/3,750 trees·ha–1, mean DBH 6.8/7.0, mean height 8.7/6.9 m, basal area 21.41/14.42 m2·ha–1. Underplanting was documented as a very proper way of beech reintroduction into the species composition of Czech forests. The reintroduction of beech at the newly originated clearcuts should be done with the use of ecological shelter of the mature stands.