Effects of Artificial Regeneration Methods on Mortality, Growth and Shape of Oak Seedlings in a Central – European Oak-Hornbeam Stand

Abstract

This paper analyses the results of an artificial regeneration experiment carried out in an oak-hornbeam stand. The effects of initial seedling density (10200, 14300, 35700 stems per hectare), spacing geometry (140 cm x 70 cm, 240 cm x 40 cm), chemical (with Erunit and Nabu) and mechanical weeding of pedunculate (Quercus robur) and sessile oak (Quercus petraea) were examined at the age of eight years. The mortality of Q. robur seedlings was independent of the initial density but that of Q. petraea increased with it. Height and diameter growth of both species significantly decreased with the density, and the values of the diameter-to-height ratios (DHR) became smaller as the density increased. At approximately the same seedling density the mortality was lower but the seedlings were shorter, thinner and the values of DHR were smaller if the distance between stems was much lower than that between rows. Mechanical or chemical weeding did not affect considerably seedling mortality, growth or shape in any of the spacing types.