Results of Czech ash provenance experiment

Abstract

This study is focused on testing progenies of common and narrow-leaved ash based on the measurement of provenance trial plots established in various forest regions under different site conditions within the Czech Republic in the spring of 1999. Height and diameter growth of 35 provenances was measured and evaluated at the stand age of 10–14 years. The main goal of this research is to analyse and compare differences in growth between progenies originating from alluvial versus scree habitats as well as between the two evaluated ash species. Moreover, the influence of localities on growth was tested using standard provenances planted on all plots. The results of the last measurement were compared with those from the first survey in 2000 at the age of 4–5 years (1 year after planting). With the exception of DBH on the Koněprusy plot, statistically significant differences in height and diameter growth between provenances were verified. The results confirmed a very strong site influence on growth. The main conclusions indicate significant differences in growth parameters between provenances, faster growth of alluvial versus scree provenances on most lowland plots, and generally faster growth of narrow-leaved ash as compared to common ash.