Comparative analysis of occluded branch characteristics forFraxinus excelsiorandAcer pseudoplatanuswith natural and artificial pruning

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop models on branch characteristics for Fraxinus excelsior L. (common ash) and Acer pseudoplatanus L. (sycamore maple) based on 44 and 25 sample trees, respectively. A total of 635 ash and 334 maple branches were sampled. The data set on artificial pruning was pooled among the two species with a total of 71 branches from 16 trees. The material was used to predict (i) the time for a complete occlusion, (ii) the total radius of the occluded branch inside the trunk, (iii) the branch insertion angle, and (iv) the dead branch portion of the occluded branch. In addition, the effects of species and natural versus artificial pruning were assessed. Generalized hierarchical mixed models with univariate or multivariate approaches were used in this analysis. The diameter of the occluded branch and the stem radial increment played a dominant role as predictors. Artificial pruning led to a significant reduction in occlusion time and a shorter occluded branch radius. Only few species-specific differences were found. Simulations showed a reasonable overall behaviour of the models. The residual variation was tolerable for integrating the models into a growth simulation system.