Production potential and quality of sessile oak (Quercus petraea LIEBL.) in different types of mixtures

Abstract

Three variants of growing sessile oak (maturing high forest) on typical fertile sites of lower elevations in the Czech Republic were compared from the production and quality point of view. The variants were as follows: mixed forest unmanaged more than 30 years, mixed forest and pure stand subjected to standard management measures based on positive selection. Surprisingly, no essential differences were found either in the production potential or in the quality of sessile oak at comparing the managed mixed forest and the monoculture. A higher number of crop oak trees in the monoculture was compensated in the mixed forest by the representation of other tree species. The unmanaged mixed forest exhibited worse quality of oak crowns, which closely correlates with the volume yield. Therefore, it is recommended to apply tending measures on the principle of thinning from above with the comprehensive management of crowns in selected targeted trees even at their higher age.

Keywords

• sessile oak
• mixed forest
• monoculture
• production
• quality
• tending